Consumer rights violation: Lack of awareness, political will blamed

Consumer Council starved of funds, unable to fulfil responsibilities.

PESHAWAR:

As the prices of essential commodities are rising rapidly, so is the need to protect consumers’ rights. But despite the urgency, the only body set up by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government to protect the rights of consumers across the province is lying powerless, starved of funds.

“There just aren’t enough resources available with the K-P Consumer Council for it to fulfil its responsibilities,” said K-P Industrial Department Deputy Director Akhunzada Anwar Khan, who heads the council. “Aside from the lack of support staff, we don’t even have enough money to publish a single pamphlet on consumer rights,” he added.

Khan said that though a few non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are working to protect the rights of consumers, the K-P government is yet to play its part. He said the government was the first among the provinces to enact a law on consumer rights, however, like other provinces it too has failed to enforce it. The law allows for setting up consumer councils at the provincial as well as district level and setting up consumer courts.

Khan said the council’s functions are to determine, promote and protect the rights of consumers. It has to ensure easy availability of consumer goods, create awareness about consumer rights, formulate policies for the promotion and protection of consumer rights and protect consumers from unfair trade. “However, given the lack of resources, the council has been unable to accomplish any of its goals,” Khan added.

Though the Consumer Rights Law was passed by the provincial assembly in 1997, a notification to set up a consumer court was not issued till June 7, 2005. The first consumer court was established after another five years, on October 7, 2010.

Khan said that due to lack of awareness among the consumers, only 172 cases have so far been registered in the consumer court set up in Peshawar. He said most of the cases filed are against the Water and Power Development Authority or the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited, adding that so far no case related to adulteration has been filed with the court. Khan urged consumers to submit applications to the district and sessions judge appointed at the consumer court if they feel that their rights as consumers have been infringed.

The deputy director said that under the law, judges are bound to give their verdict on consumer rights cases within three months. However, he said there
have been reports of judges delaying cases for several months.

Khan suggested that special committees should be set up at the community level to educate people and timely resolve consumer rights cases.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2012.