Financial institutions in Pakistan are working with target oriented approach of getting more clients rather than facilitating consumers and satisfying them with better services, said a press release issued by TheNetwork for Consumer Protection here on Wednesday.
TheNetwork for Consumer Protection joins the world community in calling upon the governments to provide consumers good quality comparable information that they can make informed choices in choosing financial service. Such information will also help to combat 'gimmicks' that encourage consumers to switch to services that are not a good deal.
This year's World Consumer Rights Day is being celebrated today (Thursday) with the theme-Our money, our rights: Campaigning for real choice in financial services. During the past decade, financial and banking sectors in Pakistan have seen a rapid and mushroom growth with profits going up in billions of rupees. Consumer financing played a substantial role and impacted in consumers' life. But, did it really provide comfort to the consumers?
TheNetwork for Consumer Protection organised an interactive session with consumers to discuss the undergoing of financial services. The findings of the session disclose that financial institutions in Pakistan instead of facilitating consumers are focusing with target oriented approach. Consumers face lengthy and complex procedures in banks which add to the agony of consumer.
According to consumers, deduction of unexplained and hidden charges is a common practice by banks and other financial institutions in Pakistan. It is not only difficult, but impossible for a common consumer to understand the formalities and inflictive conditions of banks while availing leasing, mortgages and loans. Service providers use unethical marketing practices to trap customers and lack of information leaves consumers hapless.-PR