Pakistan’s largest digital bank, Mobilink Microfinance Bank Limited (MMBL) has teamed with Daraz, Pakistan’s premier online marketplace to aid MMBL borrowers specifically women entrepreneurs, by enabling them to become sellers on Daraz.
Through this agreement, MMBL and Daraz will provide ample possibilities to promote Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs), more so now as the e-commerce platform is going through an all-time boom via the 11.11 sale. Both the organizations are fully committed to advancing women’s financial inclusion through the provision of enabling digital financial environment that contributes directly towards empowering this underserved, yet influential group, which comprises roughly half of the country’s population.
MMBL’s flagship programme, Women Inspirational Network (WIN), and Daraz’s Ibtida would together provide a tremendous boost to our mutual aim of upskilling women entrepreneurs and provide them simple access to digitally equipped growth prospects.
Sharing his enthusiasm, Ehsan Saya, Managing Director of Daraz Pakistan, stated,
“We strongly believe women are not only the cornerstone of our society but instrumental in securing a better future for Pakistan. One of the most wonderful things about our platform is how readily female entrepreneurs can sell their items all throughout Pakistan — empowering them is the essence of uplifting communities.”
This arrangement will allow freshly onboarded MMBL female vendors to be paid 0 percent commission for the first 3 months, providing them adequate opportunity to establish up their businesses. Moreover, female vendors from Daraz would be able to apply for MMBL loans at concessional rates.
Mr. Saya added, “We hope to use Daraz as a force to strengthen the SME sector of Pakistan by providing them support with the right tools and education material prepared by our expert teams. This collaboration is a step towards driving the expansion of Pakistan’s economy through the power of commerce which is Daraz’s main purpose.”
Muhammad Asim Anwar, Chief Business and Products Officer at MMBL said,
“MMBL’s partnership with Daraz has opened new doors for fostering financial inclusivity in Pakistan by laying the groundwork for a digital economic boom that will be particularly beneficial for women-owned businesses and SMEs. By making e-commerce ever more accessible to them, we are paving the road for the economic development of Pakistan as a whole.”
Speaking at the ceremony, Sardar Mohammad Abubakr, Chief Finance & Digital Officer at MMBL, remarked,
“Financial empowerment of women through e-commerce is an unmissable opportunity in today’s rapidly digitalizing world. Through our relationship with Daraz under MMBL’s Women Inspirational Network programme, we seek to provide women entrepreneurs with a solid digital platform they need to expand their company exposure and fully benefit from the wave of digitization sweeping across Pakistan and globally.”
MMBL’s branches will incorporate Daraz booths so that potential sellers can be onboarded on the e-commerce platform smoothly. Likewise, the e-commerce platform will facilitate conversions to MMBL’s comprehensive range of branch and branchless banking products and services.
The collaboration will considerably enhance the economic growth of the country by working directly towards strengthening women-led SMEs notably.