Speakers at a seminar on World Consumer Rights Day have stressed the need for creating proper awareness among the masses to raise voice for their rights, called for proactive steps for implementation of effective use of consumers' protection.
To mark International consumers' day, the seminar held under the aegis of Directorate of Industries Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in collaboration with Civic Awareness Promotion Society (CAPS) and Provincial Consumers Protection Council (PCPC) government of KP at a local hotel here on Friday. An awareness walk was also arranged on the occasion.
Notable speakers included the Director Industries Department Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Mohammad Shoaib Khan Jadoon, CAPS executive director Shakeel Waheedullah Khan, PCPC Secretary Akhunzada Anwar Saeed, Citizen Rights and Sustainable Development Executive Director Idress Kamal, Assistant Commissioner Peshawar Arif Habib, Shahab Khattak Advocate, etc.
The speakers expressed voice concern over the sale of substandard daily use items on skyrocketing rates, suggested that consumers court's at all districts should be established in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
The creation of awareness among the masses is imminent to ensure their rights, Jadoon said while speaking on the occasion. He added the silence over injustices and crime is no solution, which only meant to support the unlawful acts. He highlighted the significance of marking consumers' day, which is main objective to sensitise the people who are unaware of their rights and that is why the profiteers are exploiting them with both hands by selling substandard items on high rates. He urged the people to join hands against the injustices, keep watch on quality and prices of products introduced by different brands to ensure quality things on reasonable price.
The Assistant Commissioner Arif Habib, while sharing his past experience with hoarders, profiteers in Peshawar said that Peshawar has become major market of fake spices where many of the businessmen have been arrested, their factories were sealed and the products proved as spurious but even then they claimed damages in courts.
"We ran many drives against the fake food items and as result the people resorted to firing on our houses, butchers attempted to stab us with knives, and mounted political pressure on us but even then we continued our duty," he said. Besides, he said, changing the expiry date on different items in Peshawar market is very common and the consumers are purchasing poison on name of food and medicines. He stressed the need for proper legislation, determination on part of the government to implement the laws and empowerment of magistracy in this regard.
"It is not the duty of an individual but stakeholders like police, administration, judiciary, media, public and traders should join hands to eradicate the menace," he suggested. In his presentation, Akhunzada said that Provincial Consumers Protection Council has established the councils at district level with deputy commissioners and district police officers as heads to get complaints and take action.
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