Dr. Muhammad Shabbir
Call for Papers
5 000 USD
Total amount committed
- Location: Pakistan
Banking on Rights: A Case Study of Digital Financial Inclusion for Blind Persons in Pakistan Following coordinated advocacy involving DPOs (Disabled Persons’ Organizations), technologists, and legal experts, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) issued guidelines on 5 December 2014, urging banks to facilitate blind customers through digital banking services. However, these guidelines have resulted in inconsistent implementation. In June 2021, the SBP introduced a comprehensive Policy for Financial Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, mandating banks to develop Boardapproved strategies for the inclusion of PWDs as customers and employees. This policy emphasizes the need for accessible digital banking platforms, staff training, and the establishment of model branches equipped to serve PWDs. Yet it failed to mandate the accessibility of mobile apps and websites—a vital omission, given that digital platforms are now the primary mode of banking in Pakistan. Thus, while access has improved in theory, significant challenges remain in practice. This research seeks to document this evolution as a case of regulatory disruption from the margins and examines the implications for rights-based financial governance in the Global South.