Queen Máxima of the Netherlands visits Pakistan to promote financial inclusion and women economic development
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands who is on a visit to Pakistan appreciated the country’s efforts for promoting financial inclusion under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan and restated support for poverty alleviation and inclusive economic development.
She arrived in Pakistan on Monday on a three-day visit in her capacity as the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Advocate (UNSGSA) for inclusive finance for development.
Queen Máxima also held meetings with PM Imran Khan and President Dr Arif Alvi. The Pakistani leadership lauded Her Majesty’s resolve to provide assistance for development projects.
The prime minister apprised the Netherlands’ queen about the welfare projects including the Ehsaas Programme that aims to eradicate poverty and assist in capacity-building of women. Queen Máxima lauded the efforts of the Pakistani government for ending poverty and expressed resolve to continue cooperation with Pakistan.
“There is a great potential for rapid change in the financial inclusion particularly for women and the poor people of Pakistan,” she said while addressing the two-day Pakistan Innovative Finance Forum was jointly organized by KARANDAAZ and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in collaboration with local partners.
The Dutch royal is promoting a new initiative by Pakistan´s central bank called the Micro Payment Gateway.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office described it as ‘aiming at reducing the costs of small payments and boosting digital transactions to benefit people and promote financial inclusion.’