Sindh Assembly likely to pass consumer protection law soon: Ibad

Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan said on Tuesday that Sindh Assembly is likely to pass consumer protection law in near future, whose draft has been tabled with it in. While speaking at the closing session of national conference on "Consumer Protection in Pakistan" he said he believed that provincial legislators would act in this regard immediately as they are more accountable to people. The conference was organised by Helpline Trust and Pakistan Certification Bodies Association.
"Some objections were raised on draft of the law by members of assembly, which would be taken into account by bringing in some amendments in it, he said adding that rational behind promulgation of consumer protection ordinance in August 2004 was to do at least something to save the people from counterfeit and substandard products.
Ishratul Ibad hoped that consumer rights would be safeguarded to greater extent, once the law is approved coupled with the setting up of consumer protection council, which is in the process of formation on the lines of CPLC with the involvement of all stakeholders.
He proposed evolving of a comprehensive mechanism to keep check on substandard products, posing threat to consumer health. He suggested establishment of consumer protection ombudsman institution and consumer protection, where people could lodge their complaints about counterfeit and substandard products.
He recalled that at the time of promulgation of consumer protection ordinance, views were sought from all stakeholders, even the suggestions of lawyers from Lahore and Islamabad were sought to incorporate in draft of the law.
Governor underlined the need for creating awareness among the consumers about their rights, as merely laws could not help eliminate the illegal practice of sale of substandard and counterfeit products. "There are no statistics available as to how many people lodged the complaints about counterfeit products with concerned government department," he added.
Ishrat pointed out that lack of awareness and proper forum is major cause of spiral of gross violation of consumer rights.
When his attention was drawn to helplessness of districts government to check the price hike due to lack of magisterial power, governor told that recommendations were submitted with national reconstruction bureau (NRB) in this regard.
Federal Minister of Science and Technology Chaudhry Nouraiz Shakoor Khan said that government could not tackle the issue of substandard products without the support of masses and called for creating greater awareness among people about their rights.
Chairman Helpline Hamid Maker said that unfortunately Sindh is without any consumer protection law resulting in gross violation of consumer rights despite the fact that such law exists in Islamabad and Punjab.