14 January 2005	Friday	03 Zilhaj 1425

LAHORE, Jan 13: The Punjab Assembly on Thursday passed The Punjab Consumer Protection Bill, 2004, and The Punjab Heritage Foundation Bill, 2004.

The consumer protection bill would help in protecting the consumers from defective products, inadequate warranty, faulty service, misleading representation and other problems they have to face while purchasing a product.

Law Minister Basharat Raja, who tabled both the bills, informed the house that the consumer protection bill would provide a proper forum to the consumers to sue the manufacturers and sellers.

He expressed his confidence that the bill would be properly implemented and consumers would feel relieved. The minister said it was the first bill of its nature in the province for which the whole assembly, including the opposition, deserved credit.

He said the members of provincial cabinet and other experts studied the bill for several months and approved it after consulting with the members from the opposition.

Deputy opposition leader Rana Sanaullah Khan said the Standing Committee on Industries, Commerce and Investment has not properly studied the bill, therefore, it lacked public representation. He also expressed reservations regarding implementation of the bill. -APP