Due to utter disregard by the ruling elite of welfare and development of the oppressed section of the society exploitation of consumers has reached its height as the country has never seen such a culture of plunder and loot before.
Despite many incentives given to various sectors the present government has apparently failed to check the price hike of all consumer goods, ranging from cars to essential commodities.
By deliberately enhancing economic disparity among the different regions as well as individuals the morally and intellectually corrupt ruling elite class has divided the society into different segments to propel its interests.
People are dying of hunger and disease but there is no concept of social security net for the low income group of the society.
Instead, the feudalistic rulers who have nothing to do with welfare of common men are busy to establish their hegemony and monopoly over different sectors of the country.
In the face of such kind of apathy on the part of the state it is high time for the marginalised section of the country to unite together on community base and devise self-regulated ways for their development and prosperity.
This was the consensus developed by the participants of a seminar on 'Protection of Consumer Interest, Fostering of Consumer Resistance and Necessity of Consumer Court', organised by Consumer Council here on Monday.
The chief guest, Senate Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro conceded that indeed the issue was an important and a complicated one which having various aspects was everyone's concern.
He said that the issue could not be resolved through sentimental deliberations, and advised to adopt realistic approach in this regard.
He highlighted the strength of the consumers and observed that consumers themselves were the single largest market driving force which plays pivotal role in the establishment and running of any market.
He stressed the need of increasing the level of community organisation and fostering effective resistance among them so that no unscrupulous element could exploit them.
He observed that basic utilities should be privatised, but a regulatory body should always be there to check the services and price related matters.
He admitted that there was dire need of having a comprehensive consumer protection law in the province and promised to put forward the recommendations of the council to the concerned department.
However, he added that it was an uphill task which was not possible without the effective involvement of the civil society.
Earlier, Convener of the council, Shahida Kausar Farooq, criticised the government for spending lavishly on various mega-projects, while on the one side people were deprived of even the basic amenities and facilities such as clean drinking water, electricity, health education etc.
She demanded to expand the scope of the proposed consumer law to include public sector in its ambit also as it was the main provider of most of the basic utilities and infrastructure facilities.
In view of extremely depleted infrastructure of the city she also demanded to declare municipal emergency in Karachi.
Others who also spoke included Minister for Housing and Works, Syed Safwanullah, KPC President Sabihuddin Ghousi, Justice Mohammad Ghouse, Rana Zarin Khan, KCCI Senior Vice-President Saeed Shafi, Advocate Aziz ur Rehman, Shamim Kazmi, Tariq Ragoonwala, Huma Bakhtiar, Advisor to CM on Information, Salahuddin Haider, and Abdullah Dadabhoy.
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