Analysis of Consumer Protection Laws in Pakistan
ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS IN PAKISTAN
The consumers are being oppressed due to unawareness of their fundamental rights as well as they are ignorant about the potential of available legal remedies. The situation is more pathetic due to the apparent absence of a systematized consumer movement in Pakistan. To furnish the consumer forums with appropriate enforcement and paraphernalia for consumer protection in all consumer related matters from food and health to pecuniary contracts and establishment of adequate redress mechanisms should be one of the main objectives of any Govt.
In Pakistan, the consumers are the most defenseless class of the society, partially due to lack of proper understanding of their rights and legal remedies and partially due to disparity in consumer protection laws in the federal capital and the four provinces. Normally, there are two main goals of any consumer protection law. The 1st is access to justice and the 2nd is participation of the state. Pakistani consumer protection laws will be discussed under the both perspectives. Consumer protection laws in Pakistan specifically provide consumer grievance redressal forums and policy input with the potential of participation of consumer rights associations.
The prevailing legislations regarding Consumer Protection in force in different areas of Pakistan are:
1. Punjab Consumer Protection Act, 2005 (PCPA)
2. Baluchistan Consumer Protection Act, 2003 (BCPA) 3. NWFP Consumer Protection Act, 1997 (NCPA)
4. Islamabad Consumer Protection Act, 1995 (ICPA)
5. Sindh Consumer Protection Ordinance, 2007 (SCPO) All consumer protection laws in Pakistan commend for the setting up of two legal bodies which are Consumer Protection Councils and Consumer Courts.
Consumer Protection Council is main part of consumer protection regime. Practically, the Government of Punjab has taken a concrete step to promote the rights and interests of consumers and set up district consumer protection
The consumers are being oppressed due to unawareness of their fundamental rights as well as they are ignorant about the potential of available legal remedies. The situation is more pathetic due to the apparent absence of a systematized consumer movement in Pakistan. To furnish the consumer forums with appropriate enforcement and paraphernalia for consumer protection in all consumer related matters from food and health to pecuniary contracts and establishment of adequate redress mechanisms should be one of the main objectives of any Govt.
In Pakistan, the consumers are the most defenseless class of the society, partially due to lack of proper understanding of their rights and legal remedies and partially due to disparity in consumer protection laws in the federal capital and the four provinces. Normally, there are two main goals of any consumer protection law. The 1st is access to justice and the 2nd is participation of the state. Pakistani consumer protection laws will be discussed under the both perspectives. Consumer protection laws in Pakistan specifically provide consumer grievance redressal forums and policy input with the potential of participation of consumer rights associations.
The prevailing legislations regarding Consumer Protection in force in different areas of Pakistan are:
1. Punjab Consumer Protection Act, 2005 (PCPA)
2. Baluchistan Consumer Protection Act, 2003 (BCPA) 3. NWFP Consumer Protection Act, 1997 (NCPA)
4. Islamabad Consumer Protection Act, 1995 (ICPA)
5. Sindh Consumer Protection Ordinance, 2007 (SCPO) All consumer protection laws in Pakistan commend for the setting up of two legal bodies which are Consumer Protection Councils and Consumer Courts.
Consumer Protection Council is main part of consumer protection regime. Practically, the Government of Punjab has taken a concrete step to promote the rights and interests of consumers and set up district consumer protection