Islamic Model of Welfare State and Contemporary Practices in the World: with Special Reference to Pakistan
ABSTRACT
The ultimate purpose of the state, for liberal philosophers, is the well-being of individuals. The term Welfare State emerged in the mid of 20th century. For the scholars of 21st century, the ‘Welfare State’ is a buzz word today. Every country calls herself a welfare state but the level of welfare services varies from society to society. There are states where institutional form of welfare is practiced while there are also States where residual form of welfare is practiced. However, the case for Pakistan is a bit different. Pakistan shows the characteristic of pluralist welfare state. In this paper, I discuss the purpose of the State and present four welfare state models, including Islamic model of Welfare State. Finally I present contemporary practices of Welfare States in the world.
I. Introduction
Imran Khan vows to make Pakistan a 'welfare state ' (Express Tribune October 24, 2010).
‘Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) helping Pakistan become a welfare state’ (Pakistan Today Feb 17, 2011).
Pakistan can be made welfare state by acting upon Objectives Resolution (Majid Nizami, The Editor-in-Chief The Nation, Daily The Nation September 25, 2010).
These are the good news the readers of the newspapers in Pakistan goes through frequently. Since its independence in 1947, governments in Pakistan has been trying to make the country a welfare state or rather to be more precise an “Islamic Welfare State”. To fulfill this dream the rulers have tried various methods like Basic Democracies of 60s, Nationalization movement of 70s, Zakat and other Islamization measures of 80s. The measures taken during the first half of 90s (i.e. in the era of Nawaz Sharif government) there were some concrete measures taken to make Pakistan a welfare state. For example besides Zakat system of 80s, the initiative of Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (www.pbm.gov.pk) was and is still the most comprehensive social welfare programme in Pakistan since independence and until now.
The ultimate purpose of the state, for liberal philosophers, is the well-being of individuals. The term Welfare State emerged in the mid of 20th century. For the scholars of 21st century, the ‘Welfare State’ is a buzz word today. Every country calls herself a welfare state but the level of welfare services varies from society to society. There are states where institutional form of welfare is practiced while there are also States where residual form of welfare is practiced. However, the case for Pakistan is a bit different. Pakistan shows the characteristic of pluralist welfare state. In this paper, I discuss the purpose of the State and present four welfare state models, including Islamic model of Welfare State. Finally I present contemporary practices of Welfare States in the world.
I. Introduction
Imran Khan vows to make Pakistan a 'welfare state ' (Express Tribune October 24, 2010).
‘Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) helping Pakistan become a welfare state’ (Pakistan Today Feb 17, 2011).
Pakistan can be made welfare state by acting upon Objectives Resolution (Majid Nizami, The Editor-in-Chief The Nation, Daily The Nation September 25, 2010).
These are the good news the readers of the newspapers in Pakistan goes through frequently. Since its independence in 1947, governments in Pakistan has been trying to make the country a welfare state or rather to be more precise an “Islamic Welfare State”. To fulfill this dream the rulers have tried various methods like Basic Democracies of 60s, Nationalization movement of 70s, Zakat and other Islamization measures of 80s. The measures taken during the first half of 90s (i.e. in the era of Nawaz Sharif government) there were some concrete measures taken to make Pakistan a welfare state. For example besides Zakat system of 80s, the initiative of Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (www.pbm.gov.pk) was and is still the most comprehensive social welfare programme in Pakistan since independence and until now.
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