Dr. Amjad Saqib

Dr. Muhammad Amjad Saqib is a prominent social worker, volunteer and development professional. He graduated (MBBS) from King Edward Medical College Lahore and completed his Master's degree in Public Administration (MPA) and Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship, from the American University, Washington D.C., USA. He joined civil service of Pakistan (DMG) in 1985.

In 1998, he joined Punjab Rural Support Programme (PRSP), as General Manager and remained with this organization for seven years. He resigned from civil service in 2003. Since then, besides rendering philanthropic and social services, he has been providing consultancy services to Asian Development Bank, International Labour Organization, UNICEF, World Bank, and Canadian International Development Agency. His areas of expertise include poverty alleviation, microfinance, social mobilization and education management.

He is author of four books and is well known columnist and has been writing for daily Jinnah, Pakistan, Jang and Nawa-i-Waqt. He has attended many national and international conferences and represented Pakistan at different forums. In recognition of his literary achievements, Government of the Punjab awarded him Khush Hal Khan Khattak Literary award in 1993.

He is regular guest speaker at Civil Services Academy (CSA), National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and many other professional forums. He has been among the visiting faculty at Kinnaird College Lahore, Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) and University of the Punjab.

Dr. Saqib is founder of Akhuwat, first ever interest free microfinance programme. This programme operates from mosques and churches and has opened new vistas in the domain of social mobilization and poverty alleviation. This is the largest individual based lending programme in the country and is referred to in many international universities as a unique and innovative model in microfinance. He is Akhuwat's Executive Director and main driving force since its inception in year 2001. President of Pakistan bestowed on him "Sitara-a-Imtiaz", a coveted civil award on 23 March, 2010.

Dr. Amjad Saqib has written following books:

Shahar-e-lab-e-Darya (Khush –Hal Khan Khattak Literary Award Winner), Aik Yadgar Mushaira, Gotham Kay Des Main (A travelogue to Nepal, Sang-e-Meel Publications), Ghurbat aur Microcredit, Shahab-e-Saqib (under publication), Dasht-e-Zulmat

Voluntary Assignments:

1. Executive Director, Akhuwat - (2001 – to date): Akhuwat is an interest free microcredit programme that provides small loans to the poor and helps them start a business and come out of poverty. It is first ever and the largest interest free microfinance programme in Pakistan and has so far served more than 47,000 poor families in fifteen cities.

2. Vice Chairman, Punjab Educational Endowment Fund (PEEF) – (Dec 2008 – to date): PEEF is the largest educational fund in the country created by Government of the Punjab with initial seed money of Rs. 4 billion. It provides financial assistance to talented but needy students. Chief Minister Punjab is the Chairman of PEEF.

3. Managing Director, Punjab Welfare Trust for the Disabled (PWTD) – (Dec 2007 – to date): PWTD endeavors for the treatment and rehabilitation of the persons with the disabilities. It is the largest endowment fund in the country for the disabled and works in collaboration with 80 NGOs working for the visually impaired, hearing impaired, mentally retarded and physically incapacitated persons. PWTD has served more than 2.8 million patients in last fifteen years.

4. Member Governing Body/Executive Committee, Punjab Red Crescent Society (2007 - to date): Red Crescent is one of the oldest international NGOs and a part of global network for humanitarian support and relief efforts. Governor of the Punjab is the President of Governing body.

5. Chairman, Farrukh Amjad Trust (FA Trust) – (July 2008 – to date): FA Trust is founded by Dr. Muhammad Amjad Saqib, his family and close friends. This Trust aims at supporting the poor, widows and the disabled.

6. Chairman Management Committee, Fountain House Lahore – (Oct 2010 – to date): A project of Lahore Mental Health Association for the treatment and rehabilitation of mentally ill patients

7. Commissioner, Punjab Health Care Commission – (Nov 2011 – to date): 8. Member Board of Directors: Alnoor Umar Welfare Trust (Interest free microcredit programme for providing housing facilities to the poor), Abroo Welfare Trust (Educational Trust for education of poor students living in slums), Line of help (An NGO working for disaster relief and rehabilitation of earthquake victims), Anjuman Sulemania (Custodian of one of the biggest orphanage houses in Lahore), Hum Pakistani Trust (An organization working for relief of disaster), Punjab Fund for Rehabilitation of Special Persons (A State of the Art Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Persons) owned by Government of the Punjab, Member Board of Governors Children Library Complex, Member of the Committee of Citizen Feed Back Model Project Government of the Punjab, Member of the Committee to Improve Services in Education Sector, and Member of the Committee of Punjab Health Strategic Plan

Education: MBBS (King Edward Medical College, Lahore), Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship in Public Administration (One year training programme in best     universities and institutions in the USA) 1993-1994, Masters in Public Administration - MPA (The American University, Washington D.C. USA) 1994-1995 and Graduate of LUMS – McGill University Social Enterprise & Management Programme (Lahore University of Management Sciences – LUMS) 2003-2004