Dr. Muhammad Amjad Saqib

“Poverty is not just about lack of resources; it’s about deprivation – of social network, justice and morality. But poverty, in its worst form, is of hopelessness”

Dr. Muhammad Amjad Saqib is the founder and Executive Director of Akhuwat, the world’s largest Islamic microfinance organization. The organization has now successfully disbursed (As of April 2024) Rs. 220 billion in interest-free loans, helping over 6.2 million families across Pakistan. Amongst other projects, Akhuwat has also launched Pakistan’s first fee free university—Akhuwat College University — which is open to talented students from across Pakistan, as admissions are based solely on merit.

young man greeting with Dr Muhammad Amjad Saqib

Dr. Saqib is a development practitioner, social entrepreneur, author, and former civil servant. His alma matter includes King Edward Medical University, in Lahore, and The American University in Washington D.C. Akhuwat’s programs work through enhancing financial inclusion, education, access to healthcare, and the provision of food and clothes to underprivileged and deserving communities.

He is Chairman Punjab Development Network (PDN) which is a network of more than 160 development and charity organizations, working for social and economic development especially in areas like clean drinking water and sanitation. He is Executive Director, Fountain house – an Institute of treatment and rehabilitation of mentally challenged people. His areas of expertise include governance, poverty alleviation, microfinance and rural development. In recognition of his remarkable achievements in restoring human dignity to Pakistan’s most vulnerable communities, including poor women and transgenders, through financial inclusion, education, health care, and provision of shelter and housing, Dr. Saqib has received world-wide recognition, including “Ramon Magsaysay Award 2021”, popularly known as “Asia’s Nobel Prize”, the Islamic Economy Award by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Thomson Reuters in 2018. He is also recipient of Social Entrepreneur of the year award for 2018 by World Economic Forum (WEF) and Schwab Foundation and Commonwealth’s 31st Point of Light award by Queen Elizabeth II in 2018. He has also been awarded Life Time Achievement Award, 2014 by Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Thomson Reuters, for his efforts to promote Islamic finance.  President of Pakistan bestowed on him Sitara-a-Imtiaz (2011) and Hilal-a-Imtiaz (2023), two of the most coveted civil awards of Pakistan. In recognition of his significant contribution towards betterment of humanity, Rotary International presented him “Life Time Achievement Award” in December 2022. President of Pakistan recently appointed him Chairperson, Benazir Income Support Programme which is acclaimed as one of the largest social safety and welfare programs in the world. He is author of ten books and an acclaimed speaker who has spoken at UN, Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge and many other prestigious institutions throughout the world.

He is married to Farrukh Amjad, who he believes to be the strongest supporter of his mission. They have two children whom he adores, Junaid Farid and Farazeen Amjad Shahid.

HONOURS & AWARDS

1993
Khushal Khan Khattak Literary
Khushal Khan Khattak Literary Award by the Government of the Punjab.

2010
Sitara-a-Imtiaz
Dr Saqib awarded with Sitara-a-Imtiaz, one of the highest Civilian Award, on account of contributions made for social development and poverty alleviation.

2010
Nazriya-i-Pakistan Gold Medal
Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Yousaf Raza Gilani awarded Nazriya-i-Pakistan Gold Medal in March 2010 for achieving the highest level of excellence in poverty alleviation.

2014
Life Time Achievement
Life Time Achievement Award By Abu Dabi Islamic Bank and Thomson Reuters.

2013
I AM THE CHANGE
Engro IATC “I am the Change” Award for creating social impact.

2014
Honorary Citizenship
Awarded by Honorary Citizenship of Louisville by Mayor, Greg E. Fischer in March 2014

2015
Human Rights
Human Rights Society of Pakistan (HRSP) awarded the 35th Human Rights Award.

2018
Pace Awards
Awarded with PACE Awards 2017 by Pakistani American Community for high integrity and innovative ideas under the banner of Akhuwat on April 23rd 2017 in New York.

2018
Life Time Achievement
The Islamic Economics Application Award for year 2018 was awarded to Dr. Muhammad Amjad Saqib by IGIAD’s President Ayhan Karahan during the 6th Islamic Economics Workshop in Turkey.

2018
Islamic Finance Excellence
Awarded with Islamic Finance Excellence Award by Comsats University in 2018.

2018
Commonwealth’s 31 st Point of Light
Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth awarded Dr. Amjad Saqib the Commonwealth’s 31 st Point of Light award on 15 th March 2018 in recognition of his exceptional services in poverty alleviation in Pakistan.

2018
Naimat Ullah Khan Life Time Achievement
Awarded with Naimat Ullah Khan Life Time Achievement Award in 2018 for Valuable Humanitarian Services.

2018
Best Performance Award (Social Entrepreneur)
CM Shehbaz Sharif Awarded Dr. Muhammad Amjad Saqib of best performing officer of Punjab on May 27, 2018

2018
Islamic Economy Award
Islamic Economy Award presented at the Global Islamic Summit by Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Thomson Reuters recognising Akhuwat’s contribution to Islamic Economics

2018
Social Entrepreneur of the year
Social Entrepreneur of the year, awarded by World Economic Forum (WEF) and Schwab Foundation in recognition of his contributions as a social entrepreneur (2018)

2020
Shaan-e-Pakistan (Pride of Pakistan)
Shaan-e-Pakistan (Pride of Pakistan) awarded by President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi acknowledging Dr. Saqib’s efforts and welfare work during COVID-19

2021
The Ramon Magsaysay Award
The Ramon Magsaysay Award 2021 for Saqib’s first-of-its-kind interest and collateral-free Microfinance loan programme that has helped millions of poor families.

2023
Hilal-a-Imtiaz
President of Pakistan bestowed on him Hilal-a-Imtiaz the most coveted civil award of Pakistan

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