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Paper short abstract

The study explores indigenous financial practices in Pakistan's agrarian communities, like ROSCAs and Qard-e-Hasna, as decolonial alternatives to mainstream models, and quantifies their impact on financial justice, advocating for policy support of community sovereignty.

Paper long abstract

Financial inclusion in Pakistan has improved over the years, yet agrarian communities face persistent barriers from top-down capitalist models. This research critiques these approaches through post-development theory, emphasizing indigenous systems such as Rotating Savings and Credit Associations (ROSCAs, locally known as "committees"), mutual aid networks and interest-free Qard-e-Hasna loans rooted in Islamic ethics. We argue that these practices promote financial justice which entails equitable, sovereign and sustainable resource access, prioritizing collective well-being over profit.

Grounded in theories of social capital and decolonial alternatives, the study highlights how agrarian groups leverage cultural reciprocity and ecological harmony to build resilient economies. It addresses a critical research gap by providing quantitative evidence, lacking in prior studies, on how indigenous knowledge influences outcomes like access equity and sustainability.

Employing a mixed-methods design, collecting primary data from 400-500 respondents via questionnaires measuring constructs like trust, awareness and perceived risks. The research would adopt an econometric approach to contribute to the body of knowledge by quantifying decolonial finance, offer empirical baselines for South Asia and inform policies for institutions like the State Bank of Pakistan (Central Bank) to protect indigenous practices, aligning with SDGs on poverty and inequality.