Imran Khan’s welfare state: Coming soon
PTI leader has been struggling for a welfare state for sometime.
There may actually be a practical solution to Pakistan’s runaway train of insane problems.
Perhaps Pakistan should become a welfare state.
“Relentless plundering by the rulers has pushed the country to the brink of bankruptcy…and innocent people are being killed in return for a few dollars”
-Imran Khan
“By a continuing process of inflation, government can confiscate, secretly and unobserved, an important part of the wealth of their citizens.” – John Maynard Keynes
Economist John Maynard Keynes was a proponent of welfare states in his General Theory. The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden and Canada have adopted and implemented diverse forms of this socio-economic theory and practice to varying degrees of success and difficulty.
M.A. Jinnah alluded to the term ‘welfare state’, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto pledged to provide roti, kapra and makaan to citizens and Imran Khan has recently claimed that he would create a welfare state if he ever comes into power. He may be able to actually collect the taxes required to drive a welfare state because he is a tax payer, with all declared assets actually invested in Pakistan.
What does a welfare state mean?
Forging a welfare state requires providing a guarantee of three principle elements as identified by Asa Briggs:
- a guarantee of minimum standards, including a minimum income;
- social protection in the event of insecurity; and
- The provision of services at the best level possible
The question is how?
If the current government, that is generally ensconced in notions of its own welfare will not act, then we need a change of power through mid-term elections.
Many politicians who are of course in the opposition, are currently anti status quo. Intellectuals dream of transformation and the general Pakistani public just wants something – (anything!) – that is different. Thanks to the media, or some of the more responsible parts of it, there is a prospect that future elections will be issue based.
“Change is imminent” says PTI leader Imran Khan, though granted that he has been saying this for a while.
He is suggesting an upcoming campaign of civil disobedience to drag in the change that should have happened eons ago.
According to Imran Khan, now that the media and judiciary are independent, the next step is for the election commission to become autonomous. It has to be linked up with the Nadra database.
Each year 4 million youth reach the hallowed age of 18, where in a country of few rights, they, as well as other nameless members of society can vote. It would eradicate crimes that are committed anonymously by those who dodge the system…A CNIC should be compulsory.
Fortunately though, in these unfortunate times, political parties are mobilizing at the grassroots level. In the end who to vote for is a very personal choice, but voting gives us a fresh start in terms of ideas, causes and systems -independent of any personality, but attached to something every individual needs – an ideology.
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of The Express Tribune.
Agreed Agreed Agreed! Rhetoric is cheap! A detailed plan on how and what will happen and when and who pays for it is always lacking! The transformation of colonial Europe into inward looking welfare states took many years, alot of legislation and thousands of pages of reports and projections for revenue and expenditure. That things are so bad that people cling on to rhetoric rather than asking What? How? and For Whom? just reflects poorly on our current state of affairs.Recommend
Imran loog should be given a chance, everyone has so far and he is the only one left.Recommend
The concept of a welfare state is congenial to Pakistan only when it does not compromise the initiative to work and thereby contribute to economic growth. Keynesian economics underscores the many-sided benefits of a mixed economy wherein the private sector and the public sector co-exist. The latter simply endeavors to rectify the inefficiencies resulting from the actions of the former.Therefore, if Pakistan is to become a welfare state, the contributions of the private sector should not be discredited.
Additionally so, there must be a suitable mechanism for tax implementation and collection and a suitable degree of provisions to prevent the incidence of tax evasion. The type of tax which is to be introduced (whether progressive, regressive or proportional) needs to be decided along with the amount. A responsible strategy of this nature would provide copious benefits for the accumulation of development funds. I strongly recommend that an agricultural income tax be imposed as well. This has not been proposed by erstwhile governments and are a far more feasible solution than land reforms. Land reforms will create political cataclysms and unleash hatred. What we’re endeavoring to create is a peaceful Pakistan that is unhampered by the politics of vengeance.Recommend
Creating a welfare state may take a couple of years at least from the mess pakistan are in at the moment. But if anyone can bring change – imran khan can. He’s the only hope – let’s hope the people of pakistan wake up – because imran khan is a once in a generation figure looking for the best interest of pakistan.Recommend
I think his heart is in the right place and that matters a lot. give him his shot, we’ve let far less deserving people in. he cant possibly do worse than whats happenning now. (although I have said that before)Recommend
“Coming soon”? Good one.
That makes no sense. How does being a registered taxpayer equip one to implement large scale tax reforms? It’s one thing to dream, a whole new game to actually achieve it. After well over a decade in politics, Mr. Khan should’ve learned that lesson by now.
Advice for you, Ms. Shaukat, and Mr. Khan: at the end of the day, unless the PTI shows us a thorough and reliable study commissioned and paid for by the party that outlines a clear plan for fixing what’s wrong with x or y sector of this country, such pie in the sky op-eds and speeches are no different from what other parties promise.
Also, poor structure: why does the piece meander towards voting after chucking the welfare state ball in the air?
And no, individuals don’t need ideology, they need to simply think critically. The fetish for some ideology or another is one reason so many governments have failed to do anything good in this country or the rest of the world.Recommend
Imran’s inspiration is Hamid Gul, he voted for Fazl ur Rehman, he opposed Women’s protection bill, his favorite politician is Qazi Hussain Ahmad, he thinks that taliban are pushtoon nationalists who brought justice, he says that foreign elements are behind sectarian voilence; and few days ago he claimed that Swat flogging video was fake; i think he has his own weird concept of a welfare state.Recommend
A beard-less Taliban’s welfare-state in which women are lashed in local country, but men marry daughters of Jewish businessmen abroad, and men also help son of Jewish father-in-law to campaign for elections. So welfare :)Recommend
@faraz:
He didn’t oppose women protection bill…..It was a military dictator rule and Imran was of teh opinion that you are trying to “cure cancer with dispren”. He was all for restatement of democracy at that time..
Imran’s favoruite politicians are Jinnah, Mahathir Muhammad and Mandela and its a fact few doubt about. PTI, PPP, PML-N, Jamat-e-Islami were all part of APDM. PTI boycotted the election under PCO as was committed. PTI stood by justice. JI was also there. “Big parties” betrayed though.
He never said Taliban brought justice. He said there a a traditional justice system which was working. It was only after elimination of that system that Taliban tried to fill the vacuum.
There are fair chances that sectarian violence is provoked by foreign elements. Govt. claims to have some evidence of RAW and MOSAD working on our soil as well. :)Recommend
Very well written Freeha, keep writing! :)
@Arachnid: It makes sense when you want to lead by example. We all know that no other politician can do that at the moment when it comes to taxes. Regarding dreams, everyone thought Shaukat Khanam was a dream but that was actualized. We all should learn our lessons from the man’s history of following dreams up with reality!
We have working models in Shaukat Khanam and Namal College that can be studied as prototypes and thats exactly whats different from what other parties only promise! Last but not least, we have too many critics/non-doers in our society, think ideology is much more important than critical thinking because it can get us to act for a change!Recommend
@Umer Farooq
If you cant remove cancer, then you shouldnt reduce pain? Women protection bill wasnt a President’s executive order; it was a bill passed through the parliament which had support from the oppostion and ruling parties. He is against Hudoon Ordinance and Women Protection Bill, he is a confused man.
JI was part of Zia’s regime and were part of NWFP government under Musharraf era. They voted in favour of 17th amendment and they could have dissolved the provincial assembly in 2007 when Musharraf was getting himself elected for the 2nd time, but they didnt. And despite all this, Imran says that Qazi Hussain Ahmad is a decent politician!
Imran says that taliban brought justice in Afghanistan. What he doesnt mention is that pushtoon make up less than 50% population of Afghanistan. Taliban were involved in a shameful ethnic war against non-pushtoon in the 90s. They closed down all shrines, banned the books of Maududi who is no liberal by any standards, and massacred 4000 Shias in Mazar Sharif in 1997-8. In that massacre, 9 Iranian diplomats were also killed and Iranian army was mobilized to attack taliban; its no Zionist propaganda! Last month, he said that CIA is behind Alqaeda, so why are good taliban giving refuge to CIA agents? Such ridiculous statements can be expected from Munawar Hassan but not Imran!
In case of swat, people elected secular ANP who vowed to eliminated terrorism but Imran kept repeating that people support taliban as they have brought justice. Give me one statement where Imran spoke against blowing up of schools, tailor and barber shops, or massacre of women constables, pirs and teachers. What was his stance on 600 blown up schools? Did he ever ask what the government was doing to protect people from these savages? Even when taliban voilated the Nizam-e-Adal regulation, he didnt lend support to the military operation. You call this leadership?
Sectarian voilence started in the 80s. The infrastructure of extremist organizations was in place much before 911. TTP has killed thousands in Kurram agency, who has blocked the Parachinar road? TTP, Lashkar Jhangvi and other known militant organizations always take responsibility for terrorist attacks. Wali ur Rehman says that I blew up the shrine, Imran says “No, you didnt, Its Blackwater!”
The nation is fed up the traditional politicians, we all need new leadership and young people like Imran. But young people also look at things much more rationally; common sense suggests that extremism took roots during the 80s and not 2004. And as a supporter of Imran, you should convey your thoughts to him rather than justifying his wired logic. 75% tribals support military operations according to a survey, the same survey which ranked Imran as most popular politician of FATA. As Imran Khan’s fans say, ” Its time to wake up. So its time for Imran Khan to wake up.”Recommend
Imran Khan FTW!Recommend
@faraz: I treat cancer and pain separately! While we desperately look for a treatment of cancer, reducing the pain is definitely a good idea to start with. I appreciate you reminding us of that. :)Recommend
This is a very crucial time in the Pakistan history and the biggest problem at this stage is the anti democratic forces that are putting entire weight to derail democracy. Those who think Imran Khan as best option should not forget that Just like other family and ethnic Mafia bosses, Imran’s hart, his love of his life and children are raised in London, for whatever the reason it may. He stays in the mansion of his mother-in-law and conduct interviews with the international press and also a regular speaker of the American and Western “Stink Tanks” for money, what ever he does with that money does not change the fact that he is the part and parcel of the big scam of billionaire bankers and Neo-Satan’s of the world, who buy people like Imran Khan with the fees they pay for pretending to ’learn” from them. Why Imran did not go to jail and hid with his friends during the dictator’s rule and was turn in by the JI students to the police and used his wife’s influence in Europe to get of the Jail and did not stay there in protest of the dictatorship like Mandela did for his principals. These were the only PPP leaders who rendered even their lives for this country and democracy. The people like Imran Khan are just utopians.Recommend
@ Faraz…
Sorry for the late…..I’ve got papers in one month, so a bit busy nowaday
I dont know whether Imran was against women ordinance or not but what I listen him saying I just said. I read that ordinance. Although women protection bill was good but in Hudood Part I had some reservations….I personally think that had loop holes allowing sex…(Although current situation is not very appreciating but when it comes to talk about Laws, we become sensitive).
Yap JI had problems with past. So is the case with every political party in Pakistan. Everyone makes mistakes. (even PTI supported Musharaf in first place :) ). We were not making an alliance with them. We were standing on one-off stance with them. When asked if PTI would go in election with JI alliance, Imran denied categorically.
As far as I know, Imran never support Taliban. He is against the war fought for nothing. Even millions of american citizens are against war… Imran says we should make decisions on the basis of ground realities. And we shouldn’t be dictated by fpreign powers. He says Tribals has some rituals (right or wrong; they follow it staunchly). They hospilitate anybody comes their home. Imran says to differentiate between Tribals and Taliban. He has been constantly hammering that Dialogue, a political solution has to be there to augment WAR. I heard him saying that there are places where we need military operation.
again Imran didn’t said that taliban brought Justice. He said you eliminated the previous system. Justice became difficult and expensive…Taliban tried to fill the vacuum…
Yes you are right Imran do not criticize Terrorism acts categorically…I dont know why.!
Yes terrorism stems from Zia’s Regime.We digged a pit for others and fell into it….But there has to be some immediate remedy ( Dispren perhaps ). We do not have any terrorist attacks before 2004. situation aggravated after tribals joined Talibans and TTP started..Drone attacks do killl militants but ground realities says more than 60% are innocent including women and kids…More there are attacks like that, more recruitment fo TTP and other groups: revenge factor, specialty of tribals.
Yap you are right. Young educated, sensitive like Imran. Because he is the only one we see honest in the whole lot. You can argue on his political wisdom, but not on his honesty. We are not like other sycophants who consider their party heads to be gods….We are not standing with Imran, but with truth. Inran need team to tackle plitical problem. May we be of some help…I invite you to join Pti as well……We need educated Patriots.Recommend
This is what we call ‘Hawaie’ Firing – in layman terms . It would be interesting to see who mr. Imran khan brings about this radical change – that is after his is able to win more than 1 seats.
A society corrupt to the core – feudalistic in nature, has a long way to go before it can reach this ‘Utopian’ state.Recommend
Another sixer from Imi Khan and Express Tribune to boot.
Don’t they know that “Welfare State” cannot exist without productivity – in westren Europe it existed on money borrowed from Financial Groups (FGs). To loan them, the FGs used Westren… Militaries to “loot & plunder” whole Continents like Africa, Asia, South Americas, Australia etc. (otherwise none of G6 countries produce enough even to survive 1year).
This whole financial nonsense came to end in 2007 with People’s Resistance to Westren Military invasions in Afghanistan & Iraq – hence the present “Economique Recession” in so called G6. The ONLY option left is to launch another Global War this time between West & East in the name of Terrorism.Recommend