The PCC is meant to determine, promote and protect the rights of consumers.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) maybe the first province to create legislation for protecting consumer rights, but its implementation still remains a challenge.
The K-P Provincial Consumer Council (PCC) was created following the Provincial Industries Department notification dated January 24, 2013 under the NWFP Consumer Protection Act 1997.
The PCC is meant to determine, promote and protect the rights of consumers. Each district council shall consist of eight members: one member each from the district health department, police department, food department, the president of chamber of commerce and industry, an industrial development officer, a civil society member and one from a voluntary women organisation. One other person will head the council.
The eight-member quorum is yet to be finalised as only the head of PCC, Akhunzada Anwar Saeed, has been appointed with the additional charge of secretary. But that might not be the only thing preventing the council from becoming fully functional and producing tangible results. PCC is yet to receive a single complaint from any consumer.
A PCC official requesting anonymity said no one has yet filed a complaint with the council even though citizens frequently experience grievances regarding gas, power, and food items.
Communication and Advocacy Officer of the NGO, The Network for Consumer Protection, Afshan Basharat said two platforms serve as redressal mechanisms for consumer complaints. Consumer courts have been in operation in various districts of the province for the last few years, while a consumer council informs complainants about how their issues can be solved.
“We have plans to launch an awareness campaign on consumer rights in Peshawar by placing billboards in the city,” added Basharat.
But the NGO’s Chief Executive Officer Nadeem Iqbal agrees complaints can only be addressed if there are any. “Unless there are complaints there won’t be any redress. The provincial and district civil society has to play its role in creating consumer trust in these bodies,” said Iqbal.
“It is unfortunate that K-P, one of the first provinces which created legislation on consumer protection in 1997, has been struggling with the implementation of the law,” he added.
PCC Chief Akhunzada Anwar Saeed was not available for comment.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 8th, 2013.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ