‘Ignorance mars consumer rights efforts’

On the occasion of World Consumer Day, the District Consumer Protection Council (DCPC) in Jaranwala continues to face challenges, despite its establishment in 2006.

Issues such as manpower shortages, lack of essential office supplies including stationery and fuel, inadequate meeting rooms, and budget constraints persist.

Sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the council’s resources, including the stenographer and chairs, have been diverted to the consumer court for an extended period.

This diversion has hindered official operations, forcing officers to handle administrative tasks themselves, leading to delays in correspondence with concerned parties.

Sadaqat Hussain Lodhi, a member of the DCPC, highlighted the lack of public awareness regarding the council’s location and activities. He emphasised that monthly meetings, as required by law, are seldom convened, indicating a lack of commitment to consumer rights protection. He further noted that only 17 districts in Punjab have functional DCPCs with inadequate infrastructure and operational shortcomings.

Lodhi criticised the council’s inactivity during Ramadan, a crucial period for price regulation and consumer protection.

Despite the government’s efforts to control prices, the DCPC failed to fulfill its mandate, rendering it ineffective in safeguarding consumer interests against price manipulation by trading cartels. When asked about World Consumer Day activities, Mian Tanvir Riaz, another DCPC member and businessman, admitted to uncertainty regarding the council’s office location.

He highlighted discrepancies in meeting protocols, with meetings often chaired by the Additional Deputy Commissioner instead of the designated Chairman, the Deputy Commissioner. Riaz called upon the government to allocate additional resources and manpower to revitalise the DCPC, urging the provision of land for constructing a dedicated office building.