At Akhuwat, financial inclusion, access to education, and healthcare are valued as fundamental human rights. Akhuwat was established with the hope that the privileged among us can empower those who are underprivileged and thus, practice Mawakhat (solidarity) to alleviate poverty and build a bond of brotherhood between those who have, and those who have not..
To alleviate poverty by empowering socially and economically marginalized segments of society through interest-free microfinance and education.
A poverty-free society built on the principles of compassion and equity.
To develop and sustain a social system based on mutual support where each individual lives a life full 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.
Before 2001, Dr. Muhammad Amjad Saqib was affiliated with the Punjab Rural Support Program (PRSP) where he worked with marginalized families and witnessed their struggles firsthand. Learning from his experiences, he founded Akhuwat and decided to dedicate his life to providing support to those in need.
Akhuwat offers interest-free loans such as Qarz-e-Hassan to financially disadvantaged families and individuals. Akhuwat provides three types of loans; enterprise, agriculture, and housing. Beyond the realm of microfinance, Akhuwat also works in the areas of education, healthcare services, transgender support, and disaster relief.
Akhuwat derives its philosophy from Mawakhat-e-Medina, a story of compassion and brotherhood. In 622 CE, the Muhajireen (Immigrants) escaped their hometown Mecca due to religious persecution and fled to Medina leaving behind all their belongings. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon him) called on the Ansars (helpers) of Medina to share their wealth with the Muhajirs (immigrants) and treat them like brothers, offering them support in their time of difficulty. The event was a historic moment in history and laid the foundation of the enduring tradition of Mawakhat: solidarity and social responsibility towards one’s fellow citizens.
Although Akhuwat derives its inspiration from the Islamic tradition of Mawakhat, it does not discriminate based on religion, sect, caste, color, creed, or gender. Through all its programs, Akhuwat propagates inclusion, social entrepreneurship, compassion, and growth.
Akhuwat evolved as an organic entity through a process of action research. The following major principles were adopted with time.
Akhuwat provides loans with zero interest based on the belief that poverty cannot be eradicated by charging interest and doing business with the poor.
Akhuwat operates in places of worship including, mosques, churches, and temples to organize loan disbursement ceremonies. The use of religious places ensures transparency, participation, and accountability while also minimizing operational costs and generating 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 believes in an inclusive society without any discrimination based on caste, color, creed, gender, politics, or faith. Akhuwat is a nonpolitical organization working toward the ultimate objective of a poverty-free Pakistan.
Akhuwat strives to empower its borrowers with the hope of inspiring a cycle of generosity for the goodwill of all those in need.
Akhuwat recognizes four core values that support the spirit of Mawakhat: Iman, Ihsan, Ikhlas, and Infaq—faith, excellence, sincerity, and giving. Together, these values merge into the spirit of brotherhood and solidarity.
Iman or faith, is the human trust or belief in a transcendent reality that inspires a sense of responsibility and duty. The rewards of fulfilling such a duty may not be material and/or rewarded in this world. Belief in Allah and the Day of Judgment is central to Iman as it inspires one to be cognizant that they will be accountable for their worldly deeds.
The literal meaning of Ihsan is ‘to do beautiful things’ such that in every act undertaken, one is cognizant of Allah’s presence. Under the Mawakhat paradigm, Ihsan entails that every individual strives for excellence in character, work, service, and knowledge.
Ikhlas, or purity, refers to the sincerity of intention and action. To purge one’s intentions of all impurities requires self-discipline, submission of the ego, and a persistent struggle. Under Mawakhat, Ikhlas requires one to pursue goodness for the sake of goodness alone, and thus to be free from pretence, deceit, or hypocrisy.
Infaq refers to giving in the way of Allah and can be loosely translated into spending giving. without reward from anyone but Allah. As a means of equitable distribution of income and other resources, Infaq remains the same for the poor and rich; one must give according to his or her ability to those who have comparatively fewer resources.
Dr. Muhammad Amjad Saqib (SI, HI) is a development practitioner, former civil servant, philanthropist, author and founder of Akhuwat. His expertise includes poverty alleviation initiatives, social development, governance, and educational reform.
Akhuwat has a dedicated board of directors and heads of international chapters, who lay the foundation that helps Akhuwat work towards achieving its vision of poverty alleviation.
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.
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.
