Akhuwat

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City: Lahore

State: Punjab

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Country: Pakistan

In 2001 the idea of Akhuwat was presented before a group of friends at the Lahore Gymkhana. During the conversation, charging of exorbitant interest rates on microfinance programs aimed at poverty alleviation was being criticized. The idea of initiating an interest free successful microfinance program was brought forth as a challenge and at that point, no one present foresaw the shape this experiment would eventually take. One of the friends pledged a donation of ten thousand rupees, while another friend, Dr. Amjad Saqib, took it upon himself to utilize that donation as an interest free loan. The first loan of ten thousand rupees was given to a widow who was striving to earn a decent living through honorable means. She was neither a beggar nor was she looking for charity; she was only seeking a helping hand. By utilizing and returning that loan within a period of six months, she reinforced the belief in the integrity exhibited by the poor when they are helped with trust and respect. The success of the first loan brought in more donations and the group of friends became convinced of the viability of their venture into interest free microfinance. Herein Akhuwat was born, with these friends forming the first Board of Governors and Dr. Amjad Saqib serving as the first Executive Director. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in microfinance, one that found its inspiration not in economic logic but in the spirit of compassion and generosity of mankind.

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