Consumer protection bill needed: CRC

The chief of the Consumer Rights Council says that the enactment of a consumer protection bill has become necessary.

KARACHI: The chief of the Consumer Rights Council (CRC), Ahmed Chinoy, has said that the enactment of a consumer protection bill by the Sindh Assembly and constituting consumer courts has become acutely necessary to protect the basic consumer rights in the province.

While speaking to journalists, he lamented that maintaining standards in edibles and services and reasonable pricing was not a priority.

He said that, according to the international standards, Consumers say they have no rights, and are compelled to buy sub-standard and unhealthy food items.

Chinoy said that the provincial government’s silence on the issue of consumer rights is distressing when consumer courts have already been established in Punjab. He added that consumers were not aware of their rights and the council was highlighting their rights through seminars and other gatherings.

He also said that the patron-in-chief of the council, Governor of Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, was taking a keen interest in the protection of consumer rights and the council has been successful to some extent.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2010.