Pakistan Celebrates World Consumer Rights Day

World Consumer Rights Day was celebrated through out the world on 15 March 10 including Pakistan. This time Helpline Trust led by its founding trustee Mr. A Hamid Maker took the initiative and organized “ Putting the Consumer First Award” in collaboration with Consumer Protection Council. The effort is commendable and has been appreciated by all.

Consumers in any country are the backbone of economy. They are the largest stakeholders of society. Whereas in developed countries a lot is being done for the protection of consumers but unfortunately in Pakistan this aspect has been neglected over a long period of time. For this the successive governments of the past and civil society organizations are to be blamed equally. The consumer in Pakistan is neither aware of his rights and powers nor is he organized to have some influence on the forces of market.. As a result consumers are the most affected people who can just raise hue and cry but can’t do anything. Pakistan is primarily a consumer society because the industrial and manufacturing base is still in developing stage. For this reason they are a lucrative target market for the profit-making organizations, both domestic as well as abroad. Due to lack of awareness, our consumers are constantly subjected to different forms of exploitation, ranging from price-hike, hoarding, black marketing and unrealistic advertisement. The prize schemes attached to consumer goods and services are another form of psychological exploitation.

In the modern times when all segments of society are endeavoring to secure their rights, why the consumers should remain neglected? The markets of today operate on the principle of demand and supply. If the consumers are organized, they can exercise effective restraint on the purchase of goods and services and thus can prove to be a formidable force against the exploiters. The most effective weapon in the hands of consumers is an organized boycott of concerned items. This can be miraculous. We are reminded of the first bird flu rumor in Pakistan that kept the consumers away from buying poultry items and brought down the price of poultry meat from Rs.70 per KG to Rs.20 per KG within days! Although it was forced boycott prompted by health concern but the lesson learnt is that it can do wonders. If the consumers are organized and are properly guided to act in a positive manner, most of the ills like over charging, unreasonable price-hike, hoarding / black marketing, unethical cartels and monopolies in the business will be effectively curtailed. The consumers subjected to ruthless advertising campaigns and prize schemes, will regain their right of choosing the appropriate item. If the consumers insist on good standards, reasonable prices, after-sale services and warrantees etc, nobody will be able to exploit them. As democracy takes its routes in Pakistan, we look forward to a better and secure future for our consumers also.