Purpose- This paper investigates how financial inclusion impacts sustainable development in Pakistan, with financial literacy and social capital as mediators. The purpose is to explore whether these factors are connected and what this link means for more inclusive and sustainable growth. Study Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative research design was adopted, which was based on data gathered through a structured questionnaire survey of 488 banking customers in Pakistan. Data were analyzed through structural equation modeling (SEM) using PLS4-SEM software to assess the direct and indirect relationships between financial inclusion, social capital, financial literacy, and sustainable development. Findings- The findings suggest that financial inclusion positively and significantly impacts sustainable development. Financial literacy and social capital are demonstrated to play a mediating role in enhancing the pathway between financial inclusion and sustainable development. The findings show that increased financial inclusion improves financial literacy and social capital, hence promoting better economic, social, and environmental sustainability outcomes. Research limitations/implications – This study adds to the insights of the policymakers and financial institutions that help achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs). Its major implication for policymakers and financial institutions in Pakistan is that strategies that will lead towards enhancing access to banking services, promoting more financial literacy initiatives, and developing social cohesion are essential drivers of inclusive and sustainable development in Pakistan. Research Practical Implications- The study advocates for corporate governance reforms and policy interventions to prioritize human talent capital investments. Financial strategies such as maintaining liquidity and managing leverage are recommended to stabilize firm volatility. Originality/value- This research contributes to the existing literature by providing a detailed analysis of the synergistic relationship between financial inclusion, social capital, and financial literacy in the context of sustainable development. It offers a robust empirical framework for addressing development challenges in emerging economies, focusing on actionable strategies for achieving SDGs.

The main aim of this study is to determine the elements that have an impact on the capital structure of Islamic banks in the SAARC region. Islamic banks are unique since they operate under the oversight of financial regulatory organizations such as state banks and Shari’ah compliance which are governing their financial activities and expected to influence Islamic banks’ capital structure decisions in comparison to their conventional counterparts. For this study, we built an empirical model to account for the interplay between our independent variables and leverage. From 2011–2021, 17 Islamic banks (IBs) in the SAARC area were used to evaluate the empirical model utilizing a panel data approach and GLS regression analysis with correlated disturbance. This study's empirical findings indicate that the leverage ratio of IBs is positively insignificant when controlling for profitability and non-debt tax shields. The leverage ratio of IBs is positively impacted by tangibility, liquidity, and the size of the bank. However, GDP per capita and growth are negatively insignificant to the leverage ratio. Future studies are suggested in certain ways, in terms of samples other regions and countries could be considered and it is also recommended to take into consideration other financial and non-financial institutes to check their capital structure decisions. Another suggestion is to explore other variables such as; artificial intelligence and corporate governance. Specifically targeting Islamic banks in the SAARC area, this research contributes to the current body of knowledge by offering empirical proof of the critical variables impacting the capital structure of these institutions.

This research paper explores the impact of green banking practices on the sustainable performance through analysis of the mediating effect of green financing and moderating effect of green leadership. The data were collected from 250 employees of the banking sector through a self-administered questionnaire and online questionnaire made in google forms. The analysis was conducted through Smart PLS-4 and SEM model was used. The study's findings demonstrate that, in contrast to bank customer-related GB practices, which were not statistically significant; people, normal business operations, and policy-related GB practices have significant positive effects on green financing. Banks' environmental performance was significantly and favorably affected by the financing of green initiatives. Also, it was found that in contrast to employee and customer-related GB activities, banks' ordinary business operations and policy-related practices significantly affect their environmental performances. Green banking practices can have a significant impact on the sustainable performance of the banks

This article investigates how mediating variables such as financial literacy and social capital can be used in the relationship between financial inclusion and sustainable development in the Pakistani educational sector. A quantitative survey design was used to gather data on educators, students, and stakeholders, in order to quantify financial inclusion, financial literacy, social capital, and sustainable development. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyze the proposed relationships with SmartPLS. The results show that there are positive and significant correlations between financial inclusion and financial literacy, along with social capital and sustainable development. The findings also indicate that the connection between financial inclusion and sustainable development is associated with financial literacy and social capital. The present study can be useful because it describes the connection between financial access and sustainable results—based on financial knowledge, trust, cooperation, and networks—and provides implications for policymakers, educators, and financial institutions in practice.