The 3rd Social Welfare Policy of Pakistan from 1992 had 9 objectives aimed at developing social welfare programs through public participation, collaboration between public and private sectors to help disadvantaged groups, extending programs to rural areas, decentralizing administration to local governments, establishing coordination between funding agencies, programs for disabled care and rehabilitation, and staff welfare programs. Major recommendations included establishing the Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal organization, a Ministry of Social Welfare, updating legislation on foreign NGO aid, and decentralizing programs to districts and local governments. The policy utilized an Islamic framework and aimed to be comprehensive, but political instability prevented its full implementation.

1. 3rd Social Welfare Policy of Pakistan, 1992
IMRAN AHMAD SAJID, PhD
Source: Shireen Rehmatullah. (2002). Social Welfare in Pakistan. Karachi: Oxford University Press

2. October 1992
• This social policy was devised by Islami Jamhori
Ittihad.
• Nawaz Sharif--1992, Islamization: the buzz word
of the time.
• So they devised a social policy based on Islamic
social welfare ideologies.
• On October 12, 13, & 22 (1992), Meeting in
Planning Commission of Pakistan, to devise a
social policy based on Islamic System of Welfare,
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3. Objectives of the Policy
• There were nine (9) objectives of the policy
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4. 1. To develop and promote social welfare
programmes with the help of active
public participation and utilization &
exploration of community resources to
meet social welfare needs at local level
• If a programme lacks public participation, it fails.
• Previous Zakat system misused by zakat chairmen
• Open election of zakat chairman was introduced in 1992
policy
• 2ndly, if a trainer is available within the community, hire
him for training others
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5. 2. To tackle social problems like poverty,
collaboration between public & private sector be
enhanced to meet the needs of economically,
socially and physically handicapped.
– Expansion of civil society (NGOs sector), it was felt
necessary to collaborate this sector with public
sector so that the needs of maximum number of
socially, physically and economically handicapped
be enhanced.
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6. 3. To extend social welfare programmes
to far-flung rural areas
– Mostly BIG NGOs head offices in Big Cities with no
out-reach to far flung rural areas.
– Only air-conditioned policies.
– It was required that NGOs should extend their
programmes to far flung areas for their welfare.
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7. 4. To transfer the responsibility of social
welfare to local government
– In foreign countries, all the welfare activities are
carried out through Local Governments.
– It was suggested to provide social assistance to
people through Union Councils at local level.
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8. 5. To review, monitor, and evaluate the
financial & other assistance to NGOs at
Federal & Provincial level.
– Control the NGOs  attempts of 80s, 92, 96,
2005, 2007  all failed.
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9. 6. To establish a coordinating body to
streamline the funding to NGOs by
Government & International Agencies.
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10. 7. To develop remedial programmes
for care, welfare and rehabilitation
of disable
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11. 8. To make provisions for staff welfare
/government employees
– Office of welfare officer in AG Office
– Welfare of low paid workers (Grade 1 – 3)
– Jahez fund, Death Grant,
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12. 9. To decentralize social welfare
administration to the district level
– financial assistance and training, will be provided
by Federal and Provincial government
– Monitoring, evaluation, and supervision, all will be
done at District Level
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13. Major Recommendations
1. Establishment of Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal
2. Ministry of Social Welfare and Humanitarian
Affairs
– Umbrella for Women’s Welfare, youth Welfare,
Population Welfare, and Zakat Administration
3. Updating Social Legislation to control foreign
aid to voluntary organizations
4. Decentralization of Social Welfare
Programmes to district and local government
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14. Bait-ul-Mal and its Role
• Any welfare system has two aspects,
1. Financial and
2. Administration
• Financial facilities were provided through
Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal.
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15. Two aspects of PBM
1. Direct Poverty Alleviation Programmes,
– i.e. giving assistance to aged, children, orphan
and disable etc.
2. Rehabilitation of those who can earn their
livelihood
– yellow cab scheme etc.
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16. Critical Evaluation
• A comprehensive and multi-dimensional policy.
• Utilized Islamic ideology and provided
mechanism through Islamic welfare system.
• Concept of Self-Help and Rehabiliation
• NGOs be controlled
• PBM was empowered
• Gozara allowance, Tawana Pakistan, Yellow Cab
scheme
• Ministry of Social welfare and Humanitarian
Affairs was never established
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17. • For the sustainability of a policy, political and
economic stability are must.
• Nawaz government collapsed in 1994 and
another policy was promulgated in 1994.
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