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Sindh Ombudsman, Yousuf Jamal constitutes a task force comprises representatives from all stakeholders for the implementation of existing consumer protection laws in the province.
Speaking at a workshop jointly organised by the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) of The Helpline Trust and Pakistan Certification Bodies Association in collaboration with Pakistan National Accreditation Council.
The ombudsman said that besides Hamid Maker as convenor of the proposed task force, as he himself was legal advisor to the Ombudsman Abdul Matin Khan, one each member from citizens, manufacturers and regulators would be included in the committee.
Yousaf Jamal said that the Sindh Governor, Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad had given him the file of the 'Consumer Protection Ordinance' and asked for suggesting ways and means to implement it as about 25 laws and various acts already existed in the country.
While recalling an incident, when he was posted at the defunct Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), he said that corporation staff had randomly collected six samples of 'paan' from the leading 'paan' sellers of the city, when tested it was revealed that only two were using proper 'katha', imported from India and others were using animal blood, collected from slaughterhouses of the city.
With such a gory situation of adulteration and counterfeiting in the city, no punitive action had been taken against responsible persons. Similarly, there was uncontrollable adulteration in milk and other food items, he remarked. He lauded the efforts of 'The Helpline Trust' and said with its efforts the situation had improved then and awareness among masses was being created.
He expressed concern over the wide spread commercialisation in education and health sectors.
The private hospitals were fleecing the general public, where as medical treatment in neighbouring country such as in India was available at lesser cost as compared with local private hospitals. The multinational pharmaceutical companies were selling drugs at exorbitant rates as compared to the same products in the neighbouring country, he said.
Similarly, the ombudsman said that the private schools were charging exorbitant fees, which resulted in corruption, because everybody wanted that his children got education in English medium schools.
Earlier, Chairman, Helpline Trust, Hamid Maker said that in the absence of Consumer Protection Laws and its proper enforcement of the existing food and drug laws, there was a need for socially responsible manufacturers, who would provide quality products to the consumers at a nominal price.
He further said this workshop was the first in series to establish a link between stakeholders and regulators. Similar workshops would also be held in other major cities like Islamabad and Lahore.
Chairman CPC Workshop Committee, Eng. Zafar Chaudhry gave an overview of the workshop and said that besides manufacturers, the organisers had also invited the representatives from CDGK.
In his paper on "Counterfeit Products", Mubashir H. Ansar General Manager Marketing and Sales English Biscuit Manufactures (EBM) said that counterfeit products account for five to seven percent of the total world trade. But, this problem was more severe in developing countries including China, Vietnam and Pakistan.
The counterfeit products were very common in food and beverage products, auto parts, medicines, software, watches, cosmetics and textiles, he said and added it inflicted losses to consumers' health.
While quoting a survey of his company conducted in 2002, regarding 25 small and medium size biscuit manufacturing units were working in the country, out of them only eight were registered with PSQCA. Majority of the biscuit manufacturers was not using food grade colours and flavours, he added. Tahir Malik Associated Marketing Director Procter and Gamble gave example of advertisements of international brands, published in newspapers of England, which were later withdrew within few days as they were violating regulations.
He said there were some examples of advertisements, selling products with tall claims in Pakistan but no action was being taken against them. At present, he said only PTV had its own Censor Code, which applied only on government media. Pakistan Advertiser Society had also developed its Code of Advertising Practices, but that code was being adopted by only few members of the society, he added.
Registrar, Trade Mark Registry, Muhammad Mohsin read out his paper on "Brand Infringement".
He said despite a lot of development in the country there was no expansion in 'Trade Mark Registry'. "We have the same staff as in 1948 without no computers or latest equipment," he remarked.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2004

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