Akhuwat Foundation Privacy Policy

At Akhuwat Foundation, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of any personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your data when you visit our website, donate, or engage with our programs. Our mission of poverty alleviation through interest-free microfinance and community support is guided by Islamic values of compassion, trust, and transparency—principles we extend to your personal information.

1. Who We Are

Akhuwat Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Pakistan, providing Shariah-compliant loans, educational support, healthcare initiatives, and social guidance to empower underserved communities. Our official website is www.akhuwathelpline.site.

2. Scope of the Policy

This privacy policy applies to:

Visitors to our official websites
Donors who contribute online or offline
Loan applicants and beneficiaries
Students and participants of Akhuwat programs
Volunteers and job applicants
Users of Akhuwat’s digital services and mobile platforms

3. Information We Collect

a. Personal Information

We may collect the following personal details when you fill out a form, donate, or apply:

Full Name
CNIC or National ID Number
Contact Number
Email Address
Mailing Address
Educational and professional details (for scholarship/job applications)
Financial information (for loan/donation processing)

b. Technical Information

When you visit our website, we may collect:

IP address
Browser type
Operating system
Pages visited and duration
Cookies and similar tracking technologies

c. Payment Information

For online donations or loan repayments, we collect:

Credit/debit card information (processed via secure payment gateways)
Transaction ID
Donation history

Note: Akhuwat does not store your full card details. All payment processing is handled through secure, PCI-compliant platforms.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

To process donations, Zakat, or interest-free loans
To evaluate loan or scholarship applications
To send receipts, updates, and acknowledgments
To deliver personalized content and recommendations
To maintain records for transparency and auditing
To improve our website performance and user experience
To comply with legal, regulatory, or security requirements

5. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data based on:

Consent: When you opt-in to receive communications or fill out forms
Contractual Necessity: When processing loans or donations
Legal Obligation: To comply with Pakistani law and tax regulations
Legitimate Interest: To manage operations and communicate effectively with our supporters

6. How We Protect Your Data

We take data protection seriously. Akhuwat Foundation implements:

SSL encryption on all web forms
Secure data storage practices
Access controls and password protection
Regular security audits
Third-party compliance verification for payment systems

Your data is stored securely and only accessed by authorized personnel involved in relevant activities.

7. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Akhuwat uses cookies and related tools for analytics and functionality. These help us:

Understand visitor behavior
Improve site performance
Tailor content to your interests

You can manage or disable cookies via your browser settings. However, disabling them may limit certain website features.

8. Sharing of Information

We do not sell, rent, or lease your personal information to any third parties. However, we may share data with:

Trusted third-party service providers (e.g., payment processors, SMS/email delivery services)
Government or legal authorities (when required by law)
Internal departments for donor and program management

All third parties are bound by confidentiality and data protection agreements.

9. Data Retention

We retain your personal data:

As long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected
To comply with legal or accounting obligations
Unless you request its deletion

For example, donation and transaction records are retained for up to 7 years as per regulatory requirements.

10. Your Rights

As a data subject, you have the following rights:

Access: Request a copy of your personal data we hold
Correction: Update or amend incorrect or outdated data
Erasure: Request deletion of your data under specific conditions
Objection: Withdraw consent or opt out of communications
Data Portability: Ask for your data to be transferred to another service

To exercise these rights, contact us at: info@akhuwathelpline.site

11. Email, SMS & Marketing Communication

We may send you updates about our projects, donation appeals, or events. You can opt out anytime by:

Clicking the unsubscribe link in any email
Replying “STOP” to any promotional SMS
Contacting us directly at info@akhuwat.org.pk

We respect your preferences and will never spam you.

12. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to external sites (e.g., partner NGOs, social media). Akhuwat is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third-party websites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies separately.

13. Children’s Privacy

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 without verified parental consent. If you believe a child has provided us data, please contact us immediately for prompt deletion.

14. Changes to This Policy

Akhuwat Foundation reserves the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time. All changes will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date. We encourage users to check this page periodically.

Last Updated: July 19, 2025

15. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, contact us at:

Akhuwat Foundation
Office #19, Civic Center, Model Town, Lahore, Pakistan
📧 info@akhuwat.org.pk
📞 92-325-640-6556
🌐 www.akhuwathelpline.site

Akhuwat Foundation Privacy Policy