Call for enforcement of laws to control counterfeit goods

A strict and forceful enforcement of existing laws is needed to control the proliferation of counterfeit products which put human lives at risk. Proliferation of fake and modified goods is not only hurting the consumers and genuine producers of goods, it is also affecting the national economy and public sector socio-economic programmes.
These views were expressed by the speakers of a seminar on combating counterfeiting on the occasion of World Anti-Counterfeiting Day 2014 at a local hotel, said a statement issued here on Tuesday. The event was jointly organised by The Consumers Eye Pakistan (TCEP), Consumer Voice Pakistan (CVP) and Helpline Trust, with the collaboration of Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA). Addressing the occasion, TCEP Chairman Umar Ghauri in his keynote address said that fake products were harming consumers, producers and the economy.
President of Consumers Voice Pakistan (CVP), Rasim Khan in his speech said in the absence of counterfeit specific laws and special courts which were hampering efforts to curb the spread of counterfeit goods in the country. He said markets were flooded with counterfeit products being sold without fear of punishment. Some manufacturers use non-food grade plastics and colours in their products, which cause cancer. Other manufacturers use old rusted tins and plastic bottles for packing cooking oils and bottled water, he added.
Rasim Khan stressed the need for counterfeit specific laws and courts in the country and called for setting up of consumer courts in all four provinces. He appreciated those manufactures and retailers who were in forefront in combating counterfeiting. Speaking as the chief guest, the member, Board of Directors of PSQCA, M A Jabbar, in his speech said that there was no formal research or study present on the size of counterfeit drug market in Pakistan, one cannot say how big this market exactly is.
Jabbar pointed out that laws do exist to curb this menace, but the law-enforcement agencies do not have adequate knowledge to distinguish between fake and genuine products, so the country's law-enforcement agencies must acquire the ability to investigate this. The Director General of PSQCA in his message termed the seminar "Combating Counterfeiting" a step in the right direction to aware the people about effects of counterfeiting and assured that PSQCA will not let counterfeiters free or unchecked in Pakistan.
The seminar covered a wide range of topics relating to anti-counterfeiting activities, consumer protection laws and quality standards, enforcing laws and the role of consumer NGOs protecting consumers. The seminar was attended by a large number of people, including representatives from corporate sector, media people, representatives of NGOs, social workers students and volunteers.