DIGITAL banking has transformed the way people manage their finances, offering convenience, efficiency and independence.
However, for many people with visual impairment in Pakistan, recent developments have had the opposite effect. For the last eight years, I have independently managed my banl(ing through accessible mobile applications using screen-reading technology. I have been able to pay utility bills, transfer funds, shop online and handlefinancial transactions without depending on others.
Unfortunately, after a recent update to my banl(‘s mobile application, my whole independence came to an abrupt end. The application now refuses access whenever android’s Tall(Back accessibility service is enabled,effectively preventing users with visual impairment from logging into their accounts.
This is not an isolated case. Members of the visually impaired community have reported similar accessibility barriers in the mobile applications of several other banl(s as well. These accessibility features are not security risks;they are essential assistive technologies that allow blind and visually impaired people to use their smartphones independently. The problem extends beyond mobile applications.
Many persons with disabilities continue to face unnecessary difficulties while opening bank accounts or seeking routine banking services, because banl( staff often lacl( adequate awareness of accessibility and disability rights.
Thousands of visually impaired people in Pal(istan receive their salaries through banl(s and rely on digital banl(ing in their daily lives. Denying access to banl(ing is not merely a continued inconvenience; it compromises independence, privacy, dignity and equal participation in society.
The State Banl( of Pakistan (SBP) should establish and enforce mandatory accessibility standards for banking platforms across the board, ensuring compatibility with screen-readers and other assistivetechnology-related tools. Besides, banks should also ensure that future software updates do not disable any accessibility feature, and should provide appropriate disability awareness training to their staff.
Dr Saba Ghizali Karachi