Session 4-State and its role

State is a multidimensional concept which is organized under single political entity. The state is bounded by territory and comprises of several institutions, philosophical ideas and people around it.

The primary and fundamental role of state is to effectively manage the matters of its people, institutions and political bodies as well as to build fruitful international relations. However, it is a dynamic phenomenon which changes with the interest and policies of acting governing bodies.  Thus this categories it into several types of state.  

For example, in 1970s, Pakisan acts as a development state as Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto introduced the privatization policy, which aims to promote the investment and economic development in the country. However, in late 1970s, Zia ul Haq’s regime Pakistan had seen as a collective state with the introduction of nationalization policy which reverses the privatization process and transfers the economic control to state.

Moreover, Zia took the totalitarian approach in governing the state as most of the policies were based on religion. Though, the true approach of Islamic teachings and policies were distorted and shaped according to their own interests like Hudood Ordinance.