Assignment no 02

Name: Hiba Akhtar

Roll Number: 23l-6148

Course title: Pakistan Studies

Course code: SS1003

Section: BEE-2A
 How did Pakistan become a welfare state?
Definition:
A welfare state refers to a system in which the government
plays a significant role in providing social services and benefits
to its citizens.

Elements of a welfare state:

1. Social security
2. Healthcare
3. Education
4. Housing
5. Social assistance
6. Labor market policies

Pakistan as a welfare state:

Pakistan was formed as a nation whose purpose was to provide
safety and provision to its people regardless whatever caste,
creed or religion they had. It was not only a Muslim state but a
state which was supporting life allowing people to live in
whatever way they wanted to and the government’s purpose
was to ensure their safety. All citizens of the state were to be
treated equally. Justice was ensured in all cases.

Pakistan’s stance:
The government worked really hard to ensure that Pakistan
would reach the above-mentioned things. Quaid lived only one
year after Pakistan was being formed and during this period, he
tried to ensure that Pakistan was a welfare state whose
purpose was to protect human lives and to provide for them a
safe living.
Constitutional crisis:
Pakistan struggled a lot in making its constitution in 1947.
During the period the government of India act of 1935 was
made the constitution of Pakistan. Soon after that Liaqat Ali
khan put forward the objectives resolution which was to be the
constitution of Pakistan until the time a proper constitution
wasn’t formed. But it worked as a basic framework. This
resolution affirmed the commitment to Islam as the guiding
principle of the state and outlined principles of democracy,
equality, social justice, and individual freedom.
The constitution of Pakistan wasn’t formed until the year 1960.
From 1947 that is from the time of Pakistan’s formation and till
1960 all ministers worked hard to put up a successful
constitution but each of them failed and met with opposition.
Pakistan has faced political instability since its formation that
can be seen from the changes in ministries till 1960.

Present day constitution ensures all fundamental rights to

citizens that is housing, clothing, education, healthcare etc.
however achieving these goals has remained an issue since the
first day. As a newly established state Pakistan had to start
things from scratch. During the division of the military assets
India didn’t gave a 250 billion dollar to Pakistan. The headworks
of Pakistan’s main river were in India which caused a major
problem as the Indian government would threaten or even stop
the waterflow at times which caused problem not only in
domestic sectors but also the industrial and agricultural sectors
too.
Initiatives taken:

 Initiatives include programs like the Benazir Income

Support Program (BISP) and Ehsaas, focusing on poverty
alleviation and social welfare.
 Progress has been made in education, with increased
enrollment rates and improved infrastructure, but
challenges like low literacy rates and disparities between
urban and rural areas persist.
 In healthcare, efforts have been made to improve access
to medical services, but issues such as inadequate facilities
and trained personnel remain.
 In housing, several initiatives have been made in
 order to improving housing facilities and addressing the
housing needs of its citizens, particularly those from low-
income backgrounds like the Naya Pakistan Housing
Program (NPHP), Prime Minister's Housing Scheme,
Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). However, challenges
 such as bureaucratic hurdles, funding constraints, and the
scale of the housing shortage remain significant obstacles
to overcome.

Conclusion:
Pakistan a welfare state, is still a question until now. Though if
one sees the timeline and compares the conditions of citizens
from then to now then one realizes that the efforts and the
initiative programs being made have somehow improved the
wellbeing of citizens from the period of 1947. Overall, while
Pakistan has taken steps towards becoming a welfare state by
instituting social welfare programs and constitutional
guarantees, significant challenges and limitations remain.

**initiatives being mentioned**

BISP: BISP stands for the Benazir Income Support Program. It is one of the largest
social safety net programs in Pakistan aimed at providing financial assistance to
low-income families across the country. BISP plays a crucial role in providing social
assistance to vulnerable families and contributing to poverty reduction efforts in
Pakistan
Ehsaas: Like BISP Ehsaas is a comprehensive social protection and poverty
alleviation program launched by the Government of Pakistan.
NPHP: NPHP stands for the Naya Pakistan Housing Program. the Naya Pakistan
Housing Program represents a significant initiative by the government to address
the housing challenges facing Pakistan. By promoting affordable housing options,
encouraging private sector participation, and prioritizing urban planning and
infrastructure development, the program aims to improve living standards and
contribute to socio-economic development in the country
Prime minister housing scheme: just like the NPHP the Prime Minister's Housing
Scheme represents a significant effort by the government to address the housing
challenges facing Pakistan. By providing subsidies, interest-free loans, and other
incentives, the scheme aims to improve access to affordable housing and enhance
the quality of life for low and middle-income families across the country.