Mikrokreditt i Pakistan
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PAKISTAN: Islamic Banking Is Microcredit Too
By Zofeen Ebrahim
LAHORE, Feb 5 (IPS) - When Shamim Akhtar’s 20-year-old daughter developed an acute case of ulcers, last year, and had to be hospitalised, she had little choice but to approach a neighbourhood moneylender and borrow Rs 20,000 (330 US dollars). Akhtar’s husband was unemployed at that time.
At 200 percent interest, it meant that she had to pay Rs 2,000 (30 dollars) to the moneylender every month. In 18 months she had paid Rs 36,000 (600 dollars) as interest, but the principal amount she owed the moneylender remained unchanged.
A couple of months ago, she heard of ‘Akhuwat’ (brotherhood), a Lahore- based, non-profit organisation that gives out interest-free loans to the poorest of the poor, and even settles the outstanding amount. Akhuwat calls it ”liberation loans”.
Now Akhtar is one of 400 people, mainly women, that Akhuwat has liberated from the clutches of loan sharks. ”One of their managers came with me to the moneylender and paid him off at one go. I’ve never felt so relieved,” she says, ”I now pay Akhuwat Rs 1,000 (16 dollars) every month and will be able to clear my loan in 20 months.”
”We really target the poorest of the poor, the ones who cannot even access microcredit,” says Amjad Saqib, the executive director.
Akhuwat’s philosophy is based on Islamic teachings–the principle of ‘Qarze-e-Hasna’ or helping someone in need with interest-free loans, which are preferred over charity.
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