Name: M.

Abdullah Roshaan

Roll No: 20I0987

Submitted to: Mam Maimoona Rasool

Submitted on: 8/OCT/2020

Pakistan Studies Assignment #1

 Can we implement the idea of welfare state on today’s
Pakistan?

We hear rampant cries throughout our news bulletins and an over-whelming stress on the
word “Welfare State”. Contrary to how simple it seems the word embodies different
meanings for different people. In Pakistan there are two conceptual ideas of welfare state,
one being presented by the “West” and one provided by Islam.

After the chaos caused by World War II, the west tried to integrate the idea of welfare state
into their nationhood and this still remains the goal of many nations today. As postulated by
the west welfare state is the philosophical concept that the welfare of a person is not only his
sole duty but of the government and society as well. We see this concept slowly rolling out
in the form of socioeconomic revolutions leading to reforms such as the civil rights
movement in USA which aimed to bring the black and the white man not only equal in
documentation and papers but in day to day life as-well. This gradually transformed the
American society as whole. During this period of cultural revolutions the main concern was
that the state should assume responsibility to protect its impoverished people from severe
poverty and its consequences by providing welfare schemes such as unemployment
benefits, free health care, free education, retirement benefits etc. The government is
expected to raise funds for such incentives through the “Tax Base” fed by surplus tax. The
western concept of welfare and its implementation is receding now-a-days due to the current
state of capitalism throughout the world which is widening the gap between the rich and the
poor.

As far as the non-West is concerned, there is already an Islamic model presented by Islam.
The Islamic notion of the welfare state is extensive because it aims at achieving the welfare
for the whole of mankind. Diversity in many models provide insights into the different kinds
of welfare states, but less attention has been given to understand the Islamic model of the
welfare state because no such state has ever existed in history after the state at Islamic State
at Medina. The Islamic model not only covers social and economical needs of an individual
but also caters his/her spiritual and moral needs. The primitive objective of an Islamic
welfare state is to establish a society based on liberty, equality and fraternity. It will
establish channels of distribution of zakat that is a fundamental pillar of Islam aimed at
removing the wealth gap. Furthermore it is the states duty to provide basic necessities to the
common man, ensuring a comprehensive security system and establishment of social justice
fair to everyone. Imam1 Ali (a.s) the 4th caliph, highlighted “Revenue collection is
secondary to land improvement and the welfare of those who till it” (Nahj-ul-Balagha)

The backbone of Islamic welfare state is Zakat. Firstly, the government needs to encourage
Zakat and must ensure its collection through proper channels. Secondly the government
should formulate all mosques under a management body and this Zakat collected should be
spent on making mosques small examples of a welfare state throughout the communities of
Pakistan. Not only Islamic education but modern scientific education should also be
provided through pulpits as it is a forum accessible by everyone. Furthermore as the first
Islamic state of Medina set forth the example, these mosques can be converted into
homeless shelters, soup-kitchens, universities and even technical crafts can be taught. It is
evident from the above discussion that the Islamic welfare state has numerous dimensions
and responsibilities but when we take Pakistan as a case study then an Islamic welfare state
is a dream of reality, and the most supporting factor is the fact that 97% of the country
identify themselves as Muslims and according to statistical figures there are more mosques
in Pakistan than water treatment facilities so all necessary infrastructure is already in place.
Islamic principles of welfare are universal to all time and all societies, and not restricted to
some alone. The collective welfare of the entire globe depends not on isolated nations, but
the whole of humanity. Welfare at the expense of rest is only achievable in a sustainable
planet.

References:
➔ https://www.ndu.edu.pk/issra/issra_pub/articles/issra-paper/ISSRA_Papers_2nd-Half-
2017/05.Islam&Welfare.pdf
➔ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
338828826_The_Islamic_Welfare_State_Concept_and_Practices