In 2001 the idea of Akhuwat was presented before a group of friends at the Lahore Gymkhana. During the conversation, charging of exorbitant interest rates on microfinance programs aimed at poverty alleviation was being criticized. The idea of initiating an interest free successful microfinance program was brought forth as a challenge and at that point, no one present foresaw the shape this experiment would eventually take. One of the friends pledged a donation of ten thousand rupees, while another friend, Dr. Amjad Saqib, took it upon himself to utilize that donation as an interest free loan.