Access to healthcare, education, and financial inclusion are valued as fundamental human rights at Akhuwat. Akhuwat was started in the hope that those of us who have it easy will be able to help those who don’t and use Mawakhat (solidarity) to help alleviate poverty and foster brotherhood between those who have it and those who don’t.
To the end poverty by providing education and interest-free microfinance to socially and economically underrepresented groups.
A society devoid of poverty founded on the values of compassion and fairness.
To create and maintain a social system that supports one another and allows each person to live a life of respect and dignity.
Akhuwat embodies Mawakhat (solidarity) as a vision towards a poverty-free society based on the values of solidarity, equity, and compassion. Akhuwat values financial inclusion, education, and healthcare as fundamental human rights.
Prior to 2001, Dr. Muhammad Amjad Saqib was a member of the Punjab Rural Support Program (PRSP), where he worked with underserved families and got firsthand experience with their difficulties. He founded Akhuwat and made the decision to dedicate his life to helping those in need after learning from his experiences.
Qarz-e-Hassan and other interest-free loans are offered to financially disadvantaged families and individuals by Akhuwat. Akhuwat offers loans for businesses, agriculture, and housing in three categories. Akhuwat also works in education, healthcare services, transgender support, and disaster relief, in addition to microfinance.
The tale of brotherhood and compassion in Mawakhat-e-Medina serves as the foundation for Akhuwat’s philosophy. Due to religious persecution, the Muhajireen, or immigrants, fled their hometown of Mecca in 622 CE and made their way to Medina, leaving behind everything they owned. Medina’s Ansars, or helpers, were urged by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) to share their wealth with the Muhajirs, or immigrants, and to treat them like brothers and provide them with support during difficult times. The occurrence was a turning point in history and laid the groundwork for the enduring tradition of Mawakhat, which emphasizes civic duty and solidarity with one’s neighbors.
Although Akhuwat derives its inspiration from the Islamic tradition of Mawakhat, it does not discriminate based on religion, sect, caste, color, creed, or gender. Akhuwat promotes growth, compassion, inclusion, and social entrepreneurship through all of its programs.
Through the process of action research, Akhuwat developed into an organic entity. The following major principles were adopted with time.
Based on the belief that doing business with the poor and charging interest cannot eradicate poverty, Akhuwat offers loans with no interest.
Akhuwat operates in places of worship including, mosques, churches, and temples to organize loan disbursement ceremonies. Transparency, participation, and accountability are all made possible through the utilization of religious locations, as is the reduction of operational expenses and the generation of goodwill.
Akhuwat relies upon the passion, dedication, and zeal of its volunteer team who dedicate their time, talent, and resources towards the vision of Akhuwat.
Akhuwat aspires to live in a society free of caste, color, creed, gender, politics, or religious beliefs. Akhuwat is a nonpolitical organization working toward the ultimate objective of a poverty-free Pakistan.
The goal of Akhuwat is to give its borrowers more control over their finances in the hope of starting a cycle of generosity that will benefit all those in need.
Iman, Ihsan, Ikhlas, and Infaq—faith, excellence, sincerity, and giving—are Akhuwat’s four core values that support the spirit of Mawakhat. These principles combine to form a spirit of brotherhood and solidarity.
Dr. Muhammad Amjad Saqib (SI, HI) is a development practitioner, philanthropist, author, former civil servant, and Akhuwat founder. Initiatives aimed at reducing poverty, social development, governance, and educational reform are among his areas of expertise.
The foundation that enables Akhuwat to work toward achieving its vision of eradicating poverty is laid by the dedicated board of directors and heads of international chapters that make up Akhuwat.
Before establishing Akhuwat, Dr. Saqib served in the Civil Services of Pakistan in the District Management Group (DMG). He also served as the General Manager of the Punjab Rural Support Program (PRSP). He had witnessed the devastating impact of poverty which encouraged him to dedicate his life to alleviating the suffering of the poor. One of Akhuwat’s initial loans was granted to a widow from Rasool Park where she was presented with Rs. 10,000 (USD 200 at the time) in the form of an interest-free loan. She bought herself two new sewing machines with this amount, earned a decent living, sent her children to school, and married her daughters in a simple wedding ceremony. She returned after 6 months to return the loan along with a request to give this money to someone else in need.
For the first eighteen months, Akhuwat didn’t have a proper office and was managed from a small cabin within the premises of PRSP. However, Mawakhat, the spirit of solidarity, and the commitment of the Akhuwat team persevered. More than two decades later, Akhuwat has disbursed more than PKR 230+ billion and opened offices in 350+ cities in Pakistan. Akhuwat has also spread its roots to other areas of life, such as education, healthcare, community development, and post-disaster rehabilitation.
Akhuwat Islamic Microfinance (AIM) has been the cornerstone of our efforts since its launch in 2001. To date, it has disbursed more than PKR 230 billion in interest-free loans to 4 million families across Pakistan. Beyond microfinance, Akhuwat also works in the field of education under the umbrella of Akhuwat Education Services (AES). With a network of schools and colleges, Akhuwat ensures that children from underserved communities have access to quality education. Other projects include Akhuwat Clothes Bank (ACB), Akhuwat Khwajasira Support Program (AKSP), Akhuwat Relief and Disaster Management Program (ARDM) and Akhuwat Community Development Program. All of Akhuwat’s initiatives work with the common objective of creating a poverty-free and prosperous society.
