An Islamic Perspective on Inequality in Pakistan

This paper examines the distribution of income in Pakistan,and in each of its four provinces, from an explicit and formal Islamicperspective. A cardinally significant Atkinson-Kolm-Sen relative indexof inequality reflecting that perspective is proposed and computed fromthe full HIES data series for the years 1984-85, 1985-86, 1986-87, and1987-88. There is evidence of a significant decline in overallinequality in Pakistan from 1984-85 to 1987-88, but the level ofinequality remains very high. Inter-province and inter-urban/ruraldifferences in inequality profiles within Pakistan and each of itsprovinces are found to be generally less. significant thanintra-province and intraurban/ rural differences.