ISLAMABAD, March 14: A number of political parties on Thursday pledged to accord priority to consumer rights protection in their election manifestoes.

The commitment was made at a round table conference on the ‘Consumers Rights to Representation’ organized by The Network for Consumer Protection here at a local hotel.

Representatives of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), Millat Party, Awami National Party (ANP), Balochistan National Party, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf and Saraiki National Party (SNP) attended the conference.

The participants unanimously agreed that a comprehensive consumer protection policy should be launched, and laws should be incorporated to protect their rights.

They appreciated the importance of consumers in the economic activity, and called for their part in devising the policy.

ANP Central Information Secretary Haji Adil related the issue with the fundamental rights and provincial autonomy, and said in a country where the people were denied their fundamental and democratic rights, the idea of consumer protection was like chimera.

He flayed frequent upward revisions in utility charges which, he said, was adding burden to the miseries of masses.

Millat Party Assistant Secretary-General Alia Malik also expressed grave concern over the price hike and exploitation of the consumers.