4 th Social Welfare Policy in Pakistan 1994

4 th Social Welfare Policy in Pakistan, 1994 Imran Ahmad Sajid, Ph. D Source: Shireen Rehmatullah. (2002). Social Welfare in Pakistan. Karachi: Oxford University Press

• Zakat System in Pakistan (Saad Hassam + Jawwad) Thursday • Pakistan Bait-ul-Maal (Shakir + Waqas) Monday • Social Welfare in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Saba + Hooria) Tuwsday • Labour Welfare in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Ilyas Karim + Guloona) Thursday 2

Sher Afghan Khan Niazi, 1994 • 1994—Ministry of Zakat, Social Welfare and Special Education prepared a policy document 3

12 Objectives of the Policy 1. to draw on the strength of the traditional, social and cultural humanism of the people for enhancing their contribution to social development. 2. to promote activities designed to raise consciousness in respect of social responsibility of individuals, communities and society for voluntary contribution of resources to social welfare. 4

3. to exert pressure by examples of the privileged , the influential and the wealthy to exercise restraints from consumption. 4. to promote, expand, and strengthen social welfare programmes of non-government agencies. 5. to promote, strengthen and expand the public sector social welfare programmes. 5

6. to develop and provide facilities and services for welfare of the people in general and the oppressed and needy, disabled and under privileged in particular. 7. to adopt measure for provision of social welfare services and facilities for the minorities. 8. to develop services and facilities for the residents of urban slums, and rural backward and other under privileged areas. 6

9. to take effective measures to eliminate social evils, recognizing “Sifarish System” as such. 10. to create conditions for integration of the under privileged and the disabled into the mainstream of life. 11. to eliminate all forms of discrimination 12. to protect from national and foreign exploitation all vulnerable sections of the society. 7

Implementation Strategy 1. It was decided that these objectives would be obtained by mobilizing mass media to create social awareness. 2. The important role of the voluntary efforts was considered to be indispensable in the management of social services. 3. The 8, 000 and odd voluntary social welfare agencies in the country would be coordinated. 8

TARGET GROUPS • The policy singled out target groups such as 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. children, women, senior citizens, religious minorities, the disabled, beggars, prisoners, drug addicts, patients, students and residents of slums and katchi abadies. 9

REMEDIAL MEASURES • Several remedial measures were proposed such as • Children Services 1. setting up of orphanages, 2. child care services for disabled, 3. protection and care of school drop outs, abandoned, kidnapped and bonded laborers. • Youth Services 1. Youth camps , vocational training and assistance to needy youth comprised services for youth. 10

• Women Services 1. Shelters for widows, 2. financial assistance from Zakat fund, 3. vocational training homes for the emotionally distressed, 4. legal aid centers, 5. hostels for working women, were proposed. 11

• Senior Citizens and Beggers 1. Senior citizens, beggars, prisoners would be provided with institutional care and rehabilitation. 2. Beggary would be totally eliminated 12

• Health Serivces 1. Poor patients will be assisted through medical social work and 2. Medical Social workers will be appointed in every hospital. 3. School health services will be initiated. • Community development services would continue to mobilize communities and their resources. 13

Fate of the Policy • But unfortunately, like other policies , this too remained a document. • The lofty ideals and goals and objectives of this policy could not be achieved. 14