August 9, 2003	Saturday	Jumadi-us-Sani 10, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 8: A comprehensive law is required to protect the consumers not only from substandard food items but poor services as well.

This was stated by Dr Zafar Mirza, the executive director of The Network, an Islamabad-based consumer rights protection body.

He said: “The consumers in the country are facing unfair trade practices, false and defective products, unethical advertisements, breach of contract, adulterated food, fake warranties, and monopolistic behaviour. Lack of a national consumer protection law is leaving people in dark.”

“The latest move by the government to amend the law to award 25-year imprisonment to those found involved in adulteration of medicines, food and beverages is a good step in the right direction,” Mr Mirza said.

A spokesman for The Network said the existing food and drug laws did not lead to a prompt action on a complaint filed by a consumer. “There should be an automatic action to a consumers’ complaint and that it should be the prerogative of the inspectors to take appropriate action,” he said.

Our Reporter adds: The Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) is of the view that 25 years imprisonment for adulterators is not the right answer.

According to a press release, the commission has expressed concerns over the decision of the federal cabinet regarding the increase in punishment for adulterators to 25 years.

The prime minister, after the cabinet meeting on August 7, had directed the law ministry to redraft the existing laws incorporating rigorous imprisonment up to 25 years against adulterators of drugs and edible items.

This decision, the CRCP said, clearly ignored the time- tested fact that it was not the stringency or strictness of the punishment, but its certainty that ensured compliance.

What is the logic in increasing the punishment when it has been very rare that authorities were able to obtain conviction under the existing laws, the statement said.

Increase in the punishment is not and cannot be a substitute for an efficient and corruption-free administrative and judicial system which has the capacity as well as the will to enforce the punishment sanctioned under the existing laws.

It may be pointed out that existing Pure Food Ordinance 1960 currently provides a punishment ranging between imprisonment from one to five years and fine between Rs100 to Rs100,000.

The CRCP recognizes that there is a need to review the existing laws. In certain cases the punishment, especially the ones related to fines have become totally outdated. For instance, the Pure Food Law 1960 provides for a penalty of Rs100 to Rs100,000. At present it does not make any sense.