Sindh govt asked to protect consumer rights

Memon for constituting ministerial task force, expert advisory council.

KARACHI: The government should immediately form a ministerial task force and an expert advisory council to ensure the rights of consumers across the province pertaining to food safety and quality and price control, said Sindh Minister Sharjeel Memon.

Stressing significance of consumer rights, Sindh Minister for Information, Archive, Commerce and Industries Sharjeel Inam Memon said, “Economic growth and prosperity are linked to consumer rights and their freedom of choice in using products of different qualities. Consumers should be ensured access to quality products and foods which are related to their health and lives.”



He was speaking at the 6th Consumers Food Safety and Quality Conference held under the auspices of Consumers Association of Pakistan (CAP) here on Tuesday.

The speakers at the conference highlighted various issues relating to consumer protection, their health and standard of edible products being sold in consumer markets.

They suggested that experts on consumer protection, health and product standards and policymakers should gather under one roof to discuss violation of consumer rights and its disadvantages to the society.



A bill would be tabled soon by parliamentarians in the Sindh Assembly for taking action against companies which were unregistered and not complying with hygienic standards for food products, Memon told The Express Tribune.

Replying to a question from the media, he said the Sindh government was committed to facilitating the business community and industries through favourable policies and environment and also asked the federal government to play its role in reducing the cost of production by lowering taxes.

Consumers Association of Pakistan Chairman Kaukab Iqbal told the conference that the Sindh government must ensure protection of consumer rights through laws and legislation as the government looked weak in law enforcement through the Consumers Act and the situation was comparatively better in other provinces.

“Government’s writ will prevail and revenues will flourish with the protection of fundamental rights of business and consumers,” he said.

The CAP chairman assured the Sindh government of his support to efforts aimed at setting up the council and task force on consumer rights.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2013.

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