For his humanitarian work in alleviating poverty, Dr. Amjad Saqib is among the nominees for Nobel Peace Prize 2022 by the Pakistani philanthropist and founder of the country’s most extensive interest-free microfinance program Akhuwat. This year there are 343 nominees for Nobel Peace Prize 2022. It includes 251 individuals and 92 organizations. This year’s Nobel Prize announcements will take place 3–10 October. Neither the names of nominators nor of nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize may be divulged until 50 years have elapsed.
Moreover, “I am only serving Allah in medicine,” Dr. Amjad Saqib stated in a statement. An individual cannot nominate the Nobel Prize, and there is no lobbying involved in the process”.
In addition, he also received the Point of Light Award, Best Entrepreneur of 2018 from the Schwab Foundation and World Economic Forum, Life Time Achievement Award from Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB), Thomson Reuters, and Sitara-i-Imtiaz from the President of Pakistan.
Akhuwat Microfinance is Pakistan’s largest micro-lending institution, which offers loans for the poor. In last three years, 4.8 million interest-free loans totaling USD 900 million have been distributed. These loan are helping three million families, with a 99.9% loan repayment rate.
Also See: Pakistani microfinance organization Owner wins Asia’s Nobel
An overview of Akhuwat operations in Pakistan
The Akhuwat organization operates a health program that helps hundreds of thousands of patients; a clothing bank that distributes more than three million clothing items to the needy; and a program that offers economical, health, and psychosocial opportunities to the oppressed transgender community.
In response to the Covid-19 epidemic. Akhuwat provided emergency loans, grants, food relief, and other assistance in more than a hundred Pakistani cities.
Moreover, The Ramon Magsaysay Award 2021 was first awarded to Dr. Amjad Saqib in August 2021, the Asian Nobel Prize for his “first-of-its-kind” interest-free microfinance program that has helped millions of poor families.