On March 1, 2026, leading philanthropists and business leaders gathered in Karachi under the theme Building the Future We Owe to reflect on a question of national consequence: how should Pakistan direct its considerable philanthropic capital?
Pakistan remains among the most generous societies in the world. Billions are given annually in Zakat and voluntary charity. Much of this generosity is directed, rightly, toward immediate relief, including food security, healthcare, and disaster response. These interventions are indispensable in a country where vulnerability is widespread. Yet relief alone, however essential, does not construct durable national capacity.
Historically, Islamic philanthropy was not confined to subsistence support. Charitable endowments sustained institutions of higher learning, research, and scholarship for centuries. Centres such as Bayt al Hikma in Baghdad and Al Azhar in Cairo were made possible through structured giving. Scholars such as Al Khwarizmi flourished in intellectual ecosystems enabled by philanthropy. Knowledge production was not incidental; it was institutionally supported.
Today, while Muslim societies collectively contribute vast sums annually, only a limited portion is directed toward higher education and research. In Pakistan, where public funding for universities remains constrained and institutional endowments are still developing, this imbalance carries long term consequences.
At the gathering, Habib University’s leadership argued that even a modest reallocation of Zakat toward structured scholarship funds and academic endowments could yield generational returns. The University reports that over 85 percent of its students receive financial support, much of it derived from Zakat and faith-based giving, with more than 42 million dollars disbursed in scholarships and aid since inception. The model proposed is not a substitute for relief efforts, but a complementary framework that recognises higher education as an essential component of nation building.
The evening opened with welcoming remarks by Master of Ceremonies Muhammad Junaid, anchor and host, followed by a recitation from the Holy Quran by Kashif Habib. In his address, Mr. Shahbaz Yasin Malik recalled the vision of the late Rafiq M. Habib, Founding Chancellor of Habib University, who believed that access to education is foundational to social transformation, “You are the Mohsineen. This journey does not end here — we invite you to help us continue it together.”
In his keynote, President Wasif Rizvi presented The Tale of a Trillion, tracing the persistence of Muslim generosity across centuries and questioning how that generosity is presently structured. The argument was straightforward: sustainable societies require institutions capable of producing knowledge, leadership, and innovation. Without durable funding mechanisms, universities remain fragile, “This ethic of giving refuses to die; we are the plant rising in a devastated world, sustained by hope,” alluding to the civilizational strength
He went on to say, “Habib University is a thought experiment. Today, nearly 23% of philanthropic giving in some parts of the world supports higher education. There are over 2,000 universities in Europe and North America with endowments of $500 million or more; institutions sustained by generations of consistent and long-term support. Now imagine a different possibility. If the Muslim world were to direct even 10%, not 23%, just 10%, of its collective giving toward higher education, adjusted for social and economic disparities, the impact would be transformative. Such a shift could support the creation of nearly 3,000 autonomous universities, benefiting more than 30 million students. All of this could happen not through radical change, but simply by moving the needle, just a little.”
The gathering concluded with remarks by Mr. Bashir Ali Mohammad, founder and Chairman of Gul Ahmed Group, on behalf of the Board of Governors and Directors, reaffirming the shared responsibility of strengthening institutions that will serve generations, “When I first joined, this community was small. It gives me great pleasure to see how much it has grown. The community of Mohsineen are not just supporters; you are co-owners and co-authors of this shared mission. Through values-driven education, you are helping shape consciously engaged leaders who will build a brighter future for all of us. I would also like to thank our hosts for opening their doors and nurturing this inspiring community. I trust that this collective commitment will translate into sustained impact, where our zakat becomes a powerful force for meaningful change.”
The event ultimately advanced a measured but consequential proposition. Pakistan does not lack generosity. It faces the more complex task of structuring that generosity for long term national capacity. Relief sustains the present. Higher education shapes the future. A balanced philanthropic architecture may determine whether the country merely responds to crises or builds the institutions necessary to transcend them.
