‘Legal framework on anvil to safeguard consumer rights’

ISLAMABAD: Government is working to put in place a legal framework to empower consumers and safeguard their rights, state finance minister said on Friday.

Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs Rana Muhammad Afzal said a number of private sector’s service providers are denying consumers of their rights, while vendors are not ready to provide buyers with invoices.

“Democracy is acceptance of the rights of vote of people and it ensures enforcement of policy,” Afzal said, addressing a national conference on consumer rights. Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) hosted the conference, titled “Building a Digital World Consumers Can Trust”, to commemorate World Consumer Rights Day. Speakers raised concerns over violation of consumer rights at various levels. They said the government needs to proactively safeguard the interests of consumers.

Abrar Hafeez, secretary general of CRCP, said the rapid growth of the internet, mobile phones and other digital technologies created opportunities and challenges for millions of consumers around the world.

Munir Ahmad, project coordinator of CRCP said it is quite unfortunate that consumers are at a disadvantaged position “because it is inherently weak”. “State and market interact but consumer rights are not being heard,” Ahmad added. “CRPC is in negotiating position of consumers in bringing consumers in this equation.”

CRCP coordinator said consumers are vulnerable to exploitative forces because in the absence of a comprehensive legal arrangement they couldn’t find any appropriate forum to get their consumer specific problems addressed. “Consumer protection council is yet to be established in Islamabad.”

Noor-ul-Amin Mengal, director general of Punjab Food Authority (PFA) said efforts are underway to frame a law for tackling the issue of misleading advertisement and deceptive marketing practices, which would help stop exploitation of consumers.

Mengal also emphasised the need to get an ad passed from PFA before its advertisement in order to ensure that the quality of the food being sold is in line with the law and set standards. Safdar Sohail, member Governance, Innovation and Reforms at Planning Commission said legislators have not taken much interest in policy making and consumer welfare in auto sector. “Market is dominating the state to have better margins to succeed.”