Call to make Consumer Protection Law functional

Speakers at a seminar have urged the relevant authorities to immediately make functional 17 years old Consumer Protection Law (CPL) by activating Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and a National Consumer Policy.
Speaking at the seminar tilted "Energy Sector Regulations & the Consumer in Pakistan" arranged by TheNetwork for Consumer Protection to mark the World Consumer Rights Day, representatives of civil society, traders, academia, political workers, lawyers and other members of the society urged the federal, provincial and local authorities concerned to immediately formulate a 'national consumer policy' for entire of the country. A large number of people participated in both events who demanded that on the pattern of Punjab District Consumer Protection Councils exclusive consumer courts should be established in Islamabad and throughout Pakistan.
'Consumer Justice Now' is the theme of this year's Consumer Rights Day. Consumer International: an umbrella body of over 200 organisations, TheNetwork, being the only one from Pakistan, in over 115 countries have observed this day. Consumer International's message is that "Good consumer protection is not just about legislation, it can deliver justice, create a fairer society and even save lives." Nadeem Iqbal, Executive Co-ordinator of TheNetwork said it was not only the government's responsibility that necessary legislation and mechanisms were evolved, but consumers must be educated and periodic surveys be conducted to assess consumers satisfaction level.
Robert Kolling, Advisor Secretary Water and Power said that right to safety was a very pertinent consumer right in the energy sector, saying there was need to develop a national electric code to control around 90 casualties per year in that sector.
He identified some of the critical areas that needed to be addressed by consumer groups including circular debt of Rs 462 billion that would ultimately boiled down to consumers and the definition of lifeline consumers, which was yet to be defined by the government.
He said though he had decades of experience in energy and two years with the Water and Power Ministry in Pakistan, but he had yet to understand the complexity in determination of the consumer tariff.
Rabia Auranzeb, Assistant Commissioner Islamabad, said there was a Consumer Compliant Cell in the district council office that received consumers' complaints and efficiently addressed those. Imran Hashmi, professor from Nust said that students could be involved in investigating any consumer issue in and around Islamabad. The finding of a study conducted by TheNetwork on the energy sector and the consumer protection was shared among the participants in the form of A Policy Brief; "Energy Sector Regulations & Consumer in Pakistan" under the Energy Project funded by the United States Agency for International development (USAID).