ARTICLE 38
38. Promotion of social and economic well being of the people. The State shall—
(a) secure the well-being of the people, irrespective of sex, caste, creed or race, by raising their standard of living, by preventing the concentration of wealth and means of production and distribution in the hands of a few to the detriment of general interest and by ensuring equitable adjustment of rights between employers and employees, and landlords and tenants;
(b) provide for all citizens, within the available resources of the country, facilities for work and adequate livelihood with reasonable rest and leisure;
(c) provide for all persons employed in the service of Pakistan or otherwise, social security by compulsory social insurance or other means;
(d) provide basic necessities of life, such as food, clothing, housing, education and medical relief, for all such citizens, irrespective of sex, caste, creed or race, as are permanently or temporarily unable to earn their livelihood on account of infirmity, sickness or unemployment;
(e) reduce disparity in the income and earnings of individuals, including persons in the various classes of the service of Pakistan;
(f) eliminate riba completly before the first day of January, two thousand twenty-eight; and
(g) ensure that the shares of the Provinces in all Federal services, including autonomous bodies and corporations established by, or under the control of, the Federal Government, shall be secured and any omission in the allocation of the shares of the Provinces in the past shall be rectified.
— Right of individuals to be dealt with in accordance with law — Elimination of exploitation — Scope — To enjoy the protection of law and to be treated in accordance with law is an inalienable right of every citizen — The sagacity of Article 4 accentuates the doctrine of equality before law or equal protection of law and no action detrimental to the life, liberty, body, reputation, or property of any person can be taken except in accordance with law — In all fairness, the public functionaries are duty-bound to perform in good faith with sheer dedication but within the peripheries of their powers — To ensure equal treatment, being mindful to the tenets and precepts enshrined under Article 3 of the Constitution — Wherein the State is obligated to ensure the elimination of all forms of exploitation and commit to the gradual fulfillment of the fundamental principle: “from each according to his ability, to each according to his work.” — Which is further fortified under Article 38 (Principles of Policy) — Wherein, yet again, the State has a duty to secure the well-being of the people by raising their standards of living — Ensuring equitable adjustment of rights between employer and employees — Providing for all citizens, within the available resources of the country, facilities for work and adequate livelihood, and reducing disparity in income and earnings of individuals. [2025 SCLR 3 = 2025 SCMR 14 = 2024 SCP 412]