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A representational image showing men distributing food to people on May 2, 2020. — AFP
LAHORE:“The Cooperative Movement is a global socio-economic initiative aimed at promoting self-reliance, economic uplift and well-being of people through mutual cooperation. It is based on the principle people can pool their resources to find collective solutions to common problems”.
These views were expressed during a seminar titled “The Role of Cooperative Institutions in Economic Development,” jointly organised by Mir Khalil-ur-Rehman Memorial Society, Punjab Cooperative Union and Quaid-e-Azam Library.
The seminar’s chief guest was Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi, Secretary of Cooperatives Punjab, and was chaired by Dr Sohail Shehzad, Registrar of Cooperatives Punjab. Guest speakers included Dr Arshad Abbasi from Social Work Department of Punjab University, Jahan Zainab Niazi, Chairperson of Punjab Cooperative Union, Kashif Manzoor, DG Libraries Punjab, Manzoor Ahmad, senior cooperator and advisor PCU, Moazzam Ali Butt, Vice Principal Cooperative Training College Faisalabad; and senior journalist Muhammad Arshad Jilani.
The hosting duties were performed by Chairman of MKRMS Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman Memorial Society Wasif Nagi, while Suha Naveed did the compering.
Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi, in his address, emphasised in today’s world, the cooperative movement is not only crucial for economic development but also for environmental protection, social justice and sustainable progress. He shared although laws governing cooperatives exist, the real challenge lies in their implementation.
He noted this movement can effectively combat poverty in both urban and rural areas by creating employment opportunities and promoting self-sufficiency. “Cooperatives are founded on the principles of equality, mutual help and member participation in the decision-making, ensuring their needs and interests are met”, he explained.
Highlighting 2025 as the “Year of Cooperatives”, he stressed the need to identify challenges within the cooperative system and learn how to overcome them. He announced initiatives like linking all cooperative societies’ websites to the Punjab Government’s main cooperative website and enabling live streaming of society elections for transparency. This would allow members who cannot attend meetings to view proceedings via the department’s YouTube channel, he pointed out.
Dr Javed Qazi disclosed the plan to lift ban on registering new cooperative societies, which has been in place since 1997. It will help more people contribute and benefit from economic activities through cooperatives, he noted.
Registrar Dr Sohail Shehzad said cooperation is a system encompassing all aspects of life. He gave the example of how women in households form informal savings committees to help one another, demonstrating mutual aid.
He said collective effort through cooperatives enables individuals reach heights they cannot achieve alone. He suggested starting internship programmes through the PCU and promoting awareness and reform through research.Dr Shehzad stressed creating affordable access to seeds and fertilizers for farmers through cooperative setups.
Manzoor Ahmad, senior cooperator and PCU advisor, talked about the historic roots of the movement, noting the first known cooperative society emerged in 1761 in Fenwick, Scotland, followed by formation of Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society in England in 1844. The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) was established in 1895 to promote these principles globally.
The first week of July is celebrated as International Cooperative Day since 1923, officially recognised by the UN in 1995. In the subcontinent, cooperatives were introduced by the British in 1902 to improve production, with the first law in 1904 and the Cooperative Act in 1911.
In Pakistan, the movement has contributed significantly in the sectors of agriculture and housing. The Government of Punjab has supported the movement by facilitating loans and housing schemes, he said.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, he said, emphasised the importance of cooperatives in distributing resources equitably.Dr Arshad Abbasi from Punjab University said cooperatives enable access to quality housing and economic solutions that seem impossible with individual efforts. He highlighted the potential of modern ideas in the cooperative sector and offered university support for innovation and research.
He said financial cooperatives can provide microfinance to the poor, create jobs and reduce poverty by empowering members economically.
DG Libraries Punjab Kashif Manzoor said major cooperative projects in Lahore demonstrate the movement’s potential to ensure national development.Chairperson Punjab Cooperative Union Jahan Zainab Niazi said the cooperative movement has played a central role in the development of countries. In Pakistan too, he said, it can help achieve significant progress by safeguarding the interests of vulnerable groups.
She commended the efforts of PCU in promoting the movement despite limited resources, and paid tribute to the people who built PCU’s infrastructure.Vice Principal Cooperative Training College Faisalabad Moazzam Ali Butt briefed the audience on the functioning of Punjab Cooperative Department. He explained how joining this movement can improve lives. Using multimedia, he illustrated the movement’s global significance.
Chairman MKRMS Wasif Nagi talked about the presence of youth in the seminar, stating they are the future leaders of the country. “The cooperative movement is a global initiative, and by following its core principles, many societal and economic issues can be resolved”, he said. This system can bring about revolution in the economic and social fields of Pakistan, he added.
Senior journalist Muhammad Arshad Jilani said Punjab Cooperative Union, established in 1918, represents societies across the province. “It plays a pivotal role in strengthening the cooperative movement through seminars and awareness campaigns”, he said.
Arshad Jilani highlighted the monthly magazine “Imdad-e-Bahmi” report published by PCU. It focuses on cooperative affairs, agriculture and daily challenges of cooperators, promoting self-reliance and awareness in society.
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