ISLAMABAD, Feb 1: Civil rights activists have emphasized the importance of establishing consumer courts and councils in the country. The activists were speaking at a public forum organized by Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan in collaboration with the UK Department for International Development. The forum was attended by people from different walks of life.

Amer Ijaz said the Punjab government had enacted the “Punjab Consumer Protection Act” in January 2005, but so far none of the forums envisaged under the act have been commissioned.

He mentioned the absence of consumer courts and consumer protection councils and said the provincial government had announced setting up of such courts in eleven districts, but no action had so far been taken in this regard.

Mohsin Kiani criticized the adjudication powers vested in the district coordination officers.

He said it was against the basic spirit of justice and negated the slogan of separation of judiciary from the executive. Once again DCOs have been entrusted with both the powers.

Mudassar Alam said the present law was a good piece of legislation but still it fell short of many expectations of the consumer groups.

The principal reason for this is the communication gap between the legislators and the public.

He said consumer protection should be a federal subject or else the consumer laws of all the provinces should be harmonised to make them compatible to each other.— Staff Reporter