promoting equitable distribution of wealth
‘To give’ is central to Islamic ethics, morality
and economy. The affluent are to give to the needy. Those who wielded political
and social power as sardars have set their underdogs free. Landlords who
commanded millions of acres have made their tenants owners of the holding they
tilled. The industrialist who built up economic empires through exploitation of
the worker, hoarding, black-marketing has surrendered much of the frozen wealth
in favour of the state. He has also given ownership rights of the project to
the worker so that in addition to his normal wages he gets profits out of the
annual dividends. What has it all led to? It has. created an environment of
equitable distribution of wealth. Difference between the rich and-not-so-rich
remains but only that much which is essential for running the business of life.
Poverty has been completely eradicated. However, it is obvious that no one
parted with power and wealth voluntarily. They were made to do so by the mighty
agent that brought about the big change. Constitution was amended to abolish
feudalism in all possible manifestations and executive force was mobilized to
implement the amendment. State of equitable distribution is maintained with the
application of Quranic principles of income and expenditure. How incomes are to
be earned and how they are to be spent by the individual, the institutions and
the state. Adherence to these injunctions does not let the wealth to accumulate
beyond a certain limit where it gets frozen. Wealth must circulate. The part of
it that becomes dormant is denied to the economy for the purpose of
development. The State Bank. Ministries of Economic Affairs, Commerce, Planning
and Development pursue such fiscal and monetary policies that create a climate
in which all economic activity takes place as per Quranic. directions. The
Parliament keeps on amending the Constitution to give it Islamic character, in
a progressive manner.
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