The panel discussion was organized by the Consumers’ Right Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) on the occasion of the International Consumers’ Right Day. ‘The Consumers Right to Representation’ was the theme for this year’s discussion.
The secretive method of increasing prices and tariffs without giving any chance of consumer representation was deplored by the participants.
They said consumers were hit by lack of access, inflation, adulteration and misinformation. There was also lack of mechanisms for addressing public complaints.
The panel comprised Advocate Mohammad Aftab Alam and CRCP secretary-general Abrar Hafeez.
Speaking on the topic, Aftab Alam highlighted various methods of representation prevalent in the world. He expressed his concern over the state of consumers’ representation in Pakistan.
He particularly referred to section 9 of the recently established Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), which stated that OGRA could decide anything without giving any notice to the consumers.
Mr Alam stressed that this was against the existing international norms of regulatory regimes.
He said consumer representation was not ensured in relevant policy-making nor was critical policy information shared with them.
General policy environment of economic and trade liberalization have made consumers more vulnerable than ever before, he added.
Right to representation was essential to creating effective policy, alongwith appropriate regulations and empowerment of individuals through consumer education and information, Mr Alam said.
Abrar Hafeez highlighted the significance of consumers’ rights to representation. He said the right to representation drew its legitimacy from indispensable inter-connectedness of consumers with every human activity.
However, it was a harsh fact that state of representation remained quite inadequate in any given policy framework.
This is especially true for Pakistan where consumers do not constitute an organized movement to voice their concerns, he added.
Mr Hafeez reflected on the state of consumers’ representation in Pakistan, saying that the emerging regulatory framework should provide for adequate representation of consumer groups. However, this was far from reality on the ground.
He expressed his concern with reference to Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority Act, 1997, which only mentioned the chamber of commerce and industry as stakeholders without any representation of consumers.
Discussants and the participants demanded of the government to involve consumer organizations in matters which had direct or indirect bearing on them.
The participants stressed on the government for prompt enactment of model consumer protection act, 2000, and model freedom of information act, 2001.
A rally was also taken out from the Press Club, Rawalpindi, which culminated at the same spot. The participants marched up to Committee Chowk and then returned back to the press club.
The Punjab Lok Ras performed a theatre performance titled, “Challo Challo Global Village Challo” at the press club.
The participants, including representatives of local government and civil society organizations, marched on Murree Road, carrying banners.
The rally was organized by the Network for consumer protection.