ABSTRACT

Pakistan is facing the problem of extremely low levels of financial inclusion including poor saving and investment behavior. All these problems have a common root-cause that is financial illiteracy of the general public. In order to assess the graveness of the financial literacy situation in Pakistan it is of paramount importance to have its better and deeper understanding.

For this purpose, it is important to first identify the factors that influence it. Since there is insufficient empirical evidence on the factors that play a major role in affecting people‟s financial literacy in Pakistan, this study will try to assess these factors through BISP beneficiaries of Hazara community in Pakistan. The aim of the research is to explore financial literacy level of BISP beneficiaries of Hazara Community. To identify and analyze different factors affecting financial literacy to provide recommendations to the policy makers and service providers in the light of the findings.

The quantitative questionnaire survey has been conducted to collect the data from 232 women respondents from Hazara community of Balochistan. It has been argued out in the study that the women in Hazara community are lagging behind in the financial literacy due to which she has been excluded from the financial decision of the household and she remain dependent on someone else to send and receive money. It has been recommended in the study to launch the financial training programs for women; and initiate the awareness campaign for financial literacy on social media.