Pakistan yet to have Consumers Right protection Law
Pakistan Times National News Desk

KARACHI: The consumers world over observed Consumer Rights Day on Tuesday reiterating their firm “NO” to Genetically Modified (GM) foods and urging the governments to enforce stricter measures to provide security against market’s unethical and dangerous practices.

Consumers have internationally accepted rights to information, choice and right to safety. In view of these basic rights, related to daily life consumption, The Network for Consumer Protection demands for legislation and implementation of laws for consumer protection.

In a statement on Tuesday Ali Qadir, head of The Network urged the government to protect consumers against the market abuses and social injustices which undermine them.

He pointed towards the unethical marketing practices, hazardous technologies and production processes and pointed out the need for consumer protection legislation and its enforcement.

Ways must be found to establish and secure GM-free areas, and strict rules introduced to prevent contamination of conventional and organic crops, he stressed

“All foods containing or derived from GMOs must be independently tested and subject to international safety guidelines”, he said.

Here it may not be out of context to mention the fact sheet released by Consumers International (CI) that represents consumer groups and agencies all over the world on the eve of World Consumers Protection Rights Day observed on March 15 each year.

The very fact sheet covers key issues on GMOs: Why consumers should take action; Get your food labeled; and “Co-existence” or GM-free zones?

Initially there were four basic consumer rights - to satisfaction of basic needs; to safety; to be informed; to choose were identified on this day in 1962. Later, the consumer movement gained recognition for four further consumer rights—to be heard; to redress; to consumer education; to a healthy environment.

In 1983 the UN formally declared 15 March as World Consumer Rights Day. On 9 April 1985 the UN General Assembly adopted the UN Guidelines of Consumer Protection to which Pakistan is the signatory.

It is a time for promoting the basic rights of all consumers, for demanding that those rights are respected and protected, and for protesting the market abuses and social injustices which undermine them.

At current point of time we can express our concerns for the food we eat, the medicines we take, the water we drink or the products we use in our homes.

Through our voice we can draw attention towards protection of consumer rights and point out the need for consumer protection legislation and its enforcement.

With the UN’s adoption of the Guidelines, consumer rights were finally elevated to a position of international recognition and legitimacy, acknowledged by developed and developing countries alike. Yet in Pakistan they continue to be ignored or trivialised by governments, producers and powerful interests.

This is despite the fact that Pakistan is signatory to the UN Guidelines on Consumer Protection 1985. The internationally recognized eight consumer rights include the right to: satisfaction of basic needs, safety, choice, information, consumer education, redress, representation and a healthy environment.

The Network for Consumer protection is a national, non-governmental, not-for-profit, rights-based advocacy organization striving to promote and protect interests of the consumers since 1992.●