KARACHI, Oct 28: Speakers at a seminar on Thursday observed that the role of consumers was vital in checking prices, which surged especially with the advent of Ramazan, asking for their increased involvement in efforts to curb the menace of price hikes.

The seminar titled, "The critical role of consumers in checking price hike: and let it not be confined to Ramazan" was organised by the Pakistan Press Foundation at its media library.

Raeesuddin Paracha, Executive District Officer (EDO) Enterprise and Investment Promotion (E&IP) Department, city government said that a more active participation on behalf of consumers was required against the menace.

He opined suggested that NGOs working for consumer rights should spread awareness, suggesting that they set up special camps at major markets of Karachi to persuade consumers to boycott sellers indulged in profiteering.

He, however, regretted that despite the hue and cry raised by consumer protection NGOs, their work could not be witnessed on ground.

"The spirit and devotion of these organisations can be gauged from the fact that when the city government asked them to accompany its staff on a visit to the New Sabzi Mandi everyday at midnight to fix prices of vegetables and fruits, nobody turned up, not even for a single day," he deplored.

Mr Paracha also regretted the less cooperation from people, saying no one bothered to lodge complaints with specially set up complaint centres for the purpose.

He also hoped that under the promulgated Consumer Protection Ordinance 2004, special consumers courts to be established would help in strictly dealing with profiteers and adulterators.

While he proposed formation of mohalla-level consumer councils for tackling the problem at the grassroots level.

Speaking on the efforts of city government to control prices in Ramazan, the EDO said that prices of commodities, except for a few, were stable, especially the prices of fruits and vegetables, which had been brought down to pre-Ramazan rates.

On hurdles confronting the authorities in this regard, Mr Paracha said that all mechanisms and laws were federal, which sometimes did not help in achieving desired results.

For instance, he said that the profiteering and hoarding act was a federally promulgated one, while the issuance of magisterial powers was also linked with the National Reconstruction Bureau, which did not match with the realities of different areas sometimes.

Chairman Helpline Trust Hameed Maker proposed that a consumer ombudsman institution should be set up to deal exclusively with complaints of profiteering and quality.

He maintained that unless the proper implementation of relevant laws, all planning to protect consumer rights would not work.

Anis Majid, Adviser and former chairman, Karachi Wholesale Grocers Associations, said that it was imperative to understand what a price hike was, and whether it was due to demand or supply, or some other factor.

He stressed for long-term planning to check prices throughout the year rather than a short-term plan every Ramazan, which on one hand did not help in achieving desired results, while on the other hand was a source of annoyance for various stakeholders. - PPI