This post is written for Abdalians Cooperative Housing Society (ACHS) Lahore residents, but the same governance principles apply to most cooperative housing societies.
Related hub: Abdalians Cooperative Housing Society (ACHS) Lahore
Why this blog exists
In society discussions (especially on WhatsApp), the real conflict is usually not “people vs committee.” It’s confusion about mandate.
Some members treat a party manifesto (internal to a group) as if it is the public mandate. That confusion triggers friction, because a cooperative housing society’s management is not a political parliament—it is an executive body that runs operations under the law and the society’s own rules.
This blog is written to keep the conversation structured, residents-first, and within the rule of law.
The legal & governance hierarchy
A clean way to think about governance is a stack (top overrides bottom):
- Constitution of Pakistan
- Federal laws
- Provincial laws
- Cooperative Societies law + rules (and Registrar/Cooperative Department framework) (cooperatives.punjab.gov.pk)
- Registered Society By-Laws (cooperatives.punjab.gov.pk)
- AGM-approved agenda & resolutions (members’ majority decisions) (cooperatives.punjab.gov.pk)
- Management Committee decisions (execution within the above)
Key point: under cooperative law, powers vest in the general body, and the managing committee exercises powers delegated by that general body and within the framework of rules/by-laws. (cooperatives.punjab.gov.pk)
So if something at a lower level clashes with a higher level, it doesn’t become “brave leadership”—it becomes a compliance problem.
“Manifesto” is not “mandate”
A party manifesto can be a nice internal plan. But it cannot override:
- the by-laws,
- the AGM agenda,
- or the law.
If a manifesto conflicts with the oath/duty to follow the legal framework, the correct choice is simple: conform to the oath and the rule-book. (cooperatives.punjab.gov.pk)
That’s not politics. That’s governance hygiene.
What a proper “progress report” should look like
A progress report should map to AGM-approved items, not personal preferences.
A residents-friendly progress report typically includes:
- Overall completion % of AGM agenda
- Item-wise completion %
- Delays + reasons
- Revised timeline
- Evidence/attachments (work order, approvals, photos, invoices where applicable)
If an activity wasn’t in the AGM agenda (example: a “family gathering,” or showcasing donated items as “committee performance”), it may be a positive activity—but it should be reported as additional activity, not as AGM mandate delivery.
Also: if past community donors delivered major welfare work, ethical reporting means credit goes to donors, not rebranded as committee performance.
Parks, open spaces, and “commercial ideas”
In Lahore, land use is regulated through LDA’s land-use framework, where “open space & recreational” is a defined land-use class. (Lahore Development Authority)
So when residents worry about “park commercialization” (café/kiosk/structures), the correct approach is not WhatsApp shouting. It’s:
- Identify the land status (society record, approvals, maps, relevant authority).
- Check by-laws + approvals required.
- Ask for written clarification and NOCs before any irreversible work. (Lahore Development Authority)
This keeps everyone safe: residents, committee, and vendors.
Feedback systems: diary number should be a record, not a barrier
A diary/receipt number is fine as a tracking mechanism. The problem starts when it becomes a filter (forcing unnecessary office visits, slowing down issues, or discouraging residents from recording feedback).
A good system is:
- online submission + auto-acknowledgement
- diary number tracking
- public monthly status summary (received / resolved / pending)
That’s how trust compounds.
Slogan: Mental Freedom, not mental slavery.
Meaning: don’t outsource your thinking to slogans; anchor it to the constitution, law, by-laws, and AGM mandate.
Disclaimer: This post is for civic awareness and governance discussion only. It does not accuse any individual, and it encourages lawful, documented, and respectful engagement. (SAHSOL)