A ROADMAP FOR SUSTAINABLE REFORMS IN COOPERATIVE DEPARTMENT OF PUNJAB: ISSUES AND WAY FORWARD

Abstract

Cooperative movement is being regulated under the Cooperative Department of the Government of Punjab. The Government of Punjab’s Rules of Business 2011 prescribe the functions associated with the Department. Over time, cooperatives’ slackening role in national life and a kind of inertia existed in their work. Literature suggests that the perpetual upgradation of systems and the introduction of reforms keep any organisation on par with modern-day challenges. The inertia in cooperatives can be broken by introducing vibrant and cogent reforms. The study attempts to devise a roadmap for the revival of cooperatives in Punjab, Pakistan, by suggesting sustainable reforms like promulgating an improved legal framework through amendments in existing laws, introducing interest-free agricultural input schemes, etc. The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated, and immediate action is required. This qualitative study proposes immediate reforms and paves the way for continuous improvement through further research, ensuring that the cooperatives can perform a meaningful and visible role in the national development agenda.