Amjad Saqib

Amjad Saqib is known for his work for social mobilization, poverty alleviation, microfinance, and education management. He has authored nine books which include Akhuwat ka Safar and Molu Musali, which describe his journey in forming Akhuwat and he regularly writes columns in several Pakistani newspapers. He is the recipient of several national and international honors including Sitara-e-Imtiaz, a coveted civil award of Pakistan. He also received "Asia's Nobel Prize" Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2021 for his organisation's interest-free loan programme.

In 2003, he decided to devote all his efforts towards working for public welfare and social development through the establishment of Akhuwat and decided to resign from the Pakistani Civil Service.

Since its inception in 2001, the organization has now successfully disbursed over PKR 157 billion (US$884 million) in interest-free loans, helping over 5.5 million families across Pakistan. Adopting a multidimensional approach to poverty alleviation, Akhuwat has launched several other projects including Pakistan's first fee-free university - Akhuwat College University - which is open to talented students from across Pakistan, who would otherwise not be able to afford higher education. Akhuwat operates several other projects under its umbrella some of which include enhancing financial inclusion, access to education and healthcare, support of the transgender community as well as the provision of food and clothes.

Established in 2001, Akhuwat was the first organization in Pakistan to tackle the issue of poverty through the disbursement of interest-free loans also known as Qarz-e-Hasan. In 2021, Akhuwat's Islamic Microfinance program has disbursed PKR 157 Billion ($884 million) in interest-free loans with a repayment rate of 99.7% to 5.5 million families across Pakistan. The organization has a network of more than 8000 employees in over 853 branches across 400 cities in Pakistan.

Muhammad Amjad Saqib, (Punjabi, Urdu: امجد ثاقب; 1 February 1957) is a Pakistani social entrepreneur, development practitioner, former civil servant and author. He is the founder and executive director of Akhuwat Foundation, which is the world's largest Islamic microfinance organization that provides interest-free loans to the most deserving segments of society. He has been nominated for 2022 Nobel Peace Prize for his work for poverty alleviation.

Amjad Saqib was born in 1957 in a Punjabi Gujjar, family in Kamalia, a small city in Punjab. After completing his early education, he joined Government College, Lahore, and went on to complete his bachelor's degree in medicine (M.B.B.S) from King Edward Medical College in 1982. He was awarded the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship in 1995 and pursued his master's degree in Public Administration from American University, Washington D.C.