ABSTRACT
Awqaf are undergoing a process of rebirth in Pakistan. Because public awqaf are strictly regulated by the state, most philanthropic activities in contemporary Pakistan take place in the form of various English law institutions such as registered societies, trusts, and not-for-profit corporations. Still, a large number of awqaf properties exists not only as symbols of past practices but religious institutions such as mosques, religious schools (madaris), shrines (dargahs), and graveyards (janazagahs) continue to be established as awqaf. During the post-colonial period in Pakistan, awqaf have also attracted attention for revival for poverty alleviation as part of microfinance. Several initiatives have been taken to develop endowment funds based on the waqf model to provide enterprising poor access to finance. This chapter explores the current practice of awqaf in Pakistan within its stringent regulatory regime for awqaf. The focus of this chapter is on Hamdard Waqf and Ihsan Waqf, which present innovative use of the traditional structure of waqf to provide various charitable and welfare services.
