Solutions for Rural Education & Healthcare through Waqf System

Rural communities in Pakistan continue to face deep-rooted structural barriers to accessing quality education and healthcare. According to UNICEF (2023), an alarming 22.8 million children are currently out of school, with the majority residing in rural areas where infrastructure is either weak or entirely absent. Schools in many villages lack trained teachers, learning materials, and even basic sanitation. Parallel to this educational crisis is a widespread deficiency in healthcare access. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2023) notes that 45% of Pakistan’s rural population remains deprived of even the most basic healthcare services, such as maternal care, immunizations, and emergency treatment. These systemic gaps contribute to the persistence of poverty, disease, and intergenerational inequality.

A promising and culturally rooted solution to these challenges is the revitalization of the Islamic endowment system known as Waqf (وقف). Historically, Waqf has played a pivotal role in funding and sustaining public goods, particularly in education and health sectors across the Muslim world. From the Ottoman Empire to Mughal India, Waqf institutions built and maintained schools, libraries, hospitals, and orphanages, independent of state financing.

In Pakistan, the Waqf system has remained largely dormant and underutilized, with much of its property either unregulated or mismanaged. By modernizing legal frameworks, improving governance, and enhancing transparency, Pakistan could transform idle Waqf assets into sustainable, community-managed resources for rural development. Waqf-funded schools and clinics could be established and operated independently of volatile public budgets or donor cycles, ensuring long-term service provision. Additionally, engaging local stakeholders and religious leaders in managing Waqf initiatives would build community ownership and trust. Bracing Waqf is not just a charitable act, it is a practical, faith-aligned strategy for empowering Pakistan’s most underserved populations and closing the rural service delivery gap in a culturally resonant way.

Waqf as a Strategic Tool for Revitalizing Rural Services in Pakistan

Waqf is an Islamic philanthropic institution involving the permanent dedication of assets such as land, buildings, or monetary investments for religious, educational, or social welfare purposes. Once a Waqf is established, the endowed asset remains inalienable, while its revenues are continuously used to benefit communities, often across generations. This model of sustainable giving has historically played a transformative role across Muslim societies.

In Ottoman Turkey, Waqf was instrumental in financing public goods such as universities, hospitals, and soup kitchens, making essential services widely accessible. In Mughal India, prominent educational institutions like Jamia Millia Islamia thrived on Waqf support, offering free learning opportunities to marginalized groups. In contemporary Malaysia, Waqf has evolved to fund affordable housing and modern healthcare clinics, demonstrating its adaptability to today’s social needs (Islamic Development Bank, 2022).

In rural Pakistan, the urgency of such support mechanisms cannot be overstated. The education sector faces a severe crisis: only 60% of children in rural areas have access to primary schools, and 35% drop out due to financial hardships (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, 2023; ASER, 2023). A 40% shortage in trained rural teachers further compromises educational quality (Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, 2023). Healthcare is equally deficient about 70% of rural residents live over 10 kilometers from the nearest functioning hospital, while 62% cannot afford basic treatment (WHO, 2023; Pakistan Economic Survey, 2023). A single doctor often serves more than 5,000 people (Pakistan Medical Association, 2023).

Waqf offers a scalable and sustainable solution to these entrenched issues. Dedicated Waqf land can be used to construct low-cost schools and rural clinics. The income generated from Waqf investments can subsidize textbooks, medical equipment, and even staff salaries. Scholarships, teacher training programs, and subsidized healthcare services could all be supported through well-managed Waqf initiatives. By revitalizing and regulating this institution, Pakistan can empower its rural communities with better access to education and healthcare, breaking cycles of poverty and underdevelopment while honoring Islamic principles of social justice and charitable giving.

Lessons from Success Stories and a Path Forward

Across the Muslim world, Waqf has proven to be a powerful mechanism for social development, particularly in underserved communities. In Malaysia, the Waqf-funded Islamic Hospital in Kuala Lumpur has become a beacon of accessible healthcare, offering free treatments to thousands annually. In Turkey, Awqaf-owned universities provide scholarships that enable rural and low-income students to pursue higher education, significantly reducing urban-rural educational disparities. In Bangladesh, Waqf-based microfinance models have empowered rural women by funding their education and small enterprises, contributing to both gender equity and local economic growth (Islamic Finance Forum, 2023).

For Pakistan to replicate and expand such successes, modernization of the Waqf system is essential. One of the first steps should be the digitization of Waqf management. A blockchain-enabled digital registry, as suggested by the State Bank of Pakistan (2023), would ensure transparency and protect assets from mismanagement or encroachment. Public-private partnerships can also be pivotal, collaboration with NGOs such as the Al-Khidmat Foundation can help mobilize resources, improve governance, and expand outreach. Additionally, integrating Sharia-compliant investment vehicles through Islamic banks can enable the financial growth of Waqf endowments while maintaining religious and ethical principles.

However, certain challenges need to be addressed. A major issue is the lack of transparency in asset use, which can be resolved through digital Waqf registries accessible to the public. Underutilized properties, often lying dormant or mismanaged, require a nationwide audit and strategic planning for development. Moreover, low public awareness about the potential of Waqf limits its growth. This can be tackled through targeted media campaigns, school curricula, and Friday sermons that emphasize the social and spiritual value of contributing to Waqf.

Conclusion

The revival of the Waqf system presents a unique and culturally grounded opportunity to address Pakistan’s rural education and healthcare crises. With millions of children out of school and nearly half the rural population lacking access to basic health services, conventional approaches have proven insufficient to bridge these persistent gaps. Waqf, rooted in Islamic principles of perpetual charity, offers a sustainable model to fund and operate essential services independent of government budgets and donor cycles.

Historical precedents from the Muslim world show that Waqf has long been effective in building and sustaining hospitals, schools, and welfare programs. In today’s context, countries like Malaysia, Turkey, and Bangladesh demonstrate how well-managed Waqf institutions can drive equitable development. Pakistan has the potential to follow suit by digitizing Waqf management, encouraging public-private partnerships, and investing in Sharia-compliant growth of Waqf funds.

If mobilized effectively, Waqf can finance rural schools, clinics, scholarships, and medical outreach programs, transforming underserved areas into self-reliant communities. Moreover, involving religious leaders, local stakeholders, and civil society in Waqf can enhance transparency and community trust. Revitalizing this traditional institution not only aligns with faith-based values but also offers a scalable, homegrown solution to rural inequality placing Waqf at the heart of Pakistan’s inclusive development agenda.

References: UNICEF; WHO; Islamic Development Bank; Pakistan Economic Survey; State Bank of Pakistan; ASER; Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training; Pakistan Medical Association; Islamic Finance Forum

Please note that the views expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any organization.

The writer is affiliated with the Institute of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

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