It is an annual celebration of the cooperative movement observed on the first Saturday in July since 1923 by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA). It was officially proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on the centenary of the ICA in 1995. It aims to raise awareness of the importance and benefits of cooperatives for economic, social and environmental development.
Each year, the ICA and the UN choose a theme for the celebrations. Theme for the 2023 International Day of Cooperatives is ” Partners for accelerated sustainable development”.
What is the Purpose of the Day?
According to the UN, the purpose of the day is to “increase awareness of cooperatives; highlight the complementarity of the goals and objectives of the United Nations and the international cooperative movement; underscore the contribution of the movement to the resolution of the major problems addressed by the United Nations; and strengthen and extend partnerships between the international cooperative movement and other actors”.
The day also provides an opportunity for cooperatives to showcase their achievements, values and principles, and to promote their vision of a more inclusive, sustainable and democratic world.
Benefits of Cooperatives for Society are following ;
1.
Cooperatives are associations and enterprises through which citizens can effectively improve their lives while contributing to the economic, social, cultural and political advancement of their community and nation .
2.
Cooperatives are people-centred, not capital-centred, and they do not perpetuate or accelerate capital concentration. They distribute wealth in a more fair way .
3.
Cooperatives foster external equality. As they are community-based, they are committed to the sustainable development of their communities – environmentally, socially and economically .
4.
Cooperatives have proven themselves more resilient to crises than the average. They foster economic participation, fight against environmental degradation and climate change, generate good jobs, contribute to food security, keep financial capital within local communities, build ethical value chains, and contribute to positive peace.
Cooperatives in Pakistan ;
Pakistan has a long history of cooperative movement dating back to 1904 when the first cooperative society was registered under the Cooperative Societies Act 1904. Pakistan currently has about 20,000 registered cooperative societies with over 3 million members. The main types of cooperatives in Pakistan are:
Agricultural cooperatives, housing cooperatives, credit cooperatives, consumer cooperatives, industrial cooperatives and transport cooperatives.
The cooperative sector in Pakistan faces many challenges such as lack of awareness, education and training, weak governance and management, inadequate legal and regulatory framework, political interference and corruption .
How can Pakistan benefit from International Cooperative Day to strengthen the administrative structures of Cooperative ?
Pakistan can benefit from International Cooperative Day by celebrating the achievements and potential of its cooperative sector and raising awareness among its citizens about the benefits of cooperatives for their economic and social well-being. Pakistan can also use this day as an opportunity to learn from best practices and experiences of other countries and regions that have successfully developed their cooperative sectors.
Pakistan can also use this day as a platform to advocate for policy reforms and support measures that can enable the growth and development of its cooperative sector. Pakistan can also use this day as a chance to strengthen its cooperation and collaboration with other cooperative movements at regional and global levels.
Lastly, it is significant for Pakistan to develop the culture of Cooperatives. It is a social administration among communities.
