Consumer Protection Legislation in Pakistan
ARE THE CONSUMER PROTECTION LEGISLATION EFFICACIOUS ENOUGH TO PROTECT THE CONSUMER RIGHTS IN PAKISTAN OR ELSE A NATIONAL STRATEGY IS NEEDED TO EVOKE MASSIVE AWARENESS, ENSURE IMPLEMENTATION OF EXISTING LAWS, APPORTION LIABILITIES AND PROTECT OUR CONSUMER?
CONSUMER PROTECTION LEGISTATION IN PAKISTAN
“Governments should develop or maintain a strong consumer protection policy, taking into account the guidelines and relevant international agreements. In so doing, each Government should set its own priorities for the protection of consumers in accordance with the economic, social and environmental circumstances of the country and the needs of its population, bearing in mind the costs and its benefits proposed measures.”
(Excerpts from the United Nations Guidelines for consumer protection)
Introduction
1. Law and Justice System reforms have been high on the agenda of international political as well as development, donor and leading agencies for the past two decades or so.2 As a consequence there has been a great deal of debate revolving round the legal reform process, and several new laws previously unheard of in most of the developing countries have been introduced. In addition to international pressures, reforms have also been high on the agenda of civil society organizations. A survey of the history of consumer protection law reveals that it has gained currency more due to the efforts of the civil society organizations working for consumer rights and the spread of market economy along with the growth of globalisation.3 The introduction of United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection has been ascribed to the efforts of international (mostly western) voluntary consumer protection associations andorganizations.4 The very fact that the UN has laid down guidelines for its member countries shows the importance attached to consumer protection internationally.
(a) Brief Background
Certain elements of consumer protection, as understood in our time, can be found
CONSUMER PROTECTION LEGISTATION IN PAKISTAN
“Governments should develop or maintain a strong consumer protection policy, taking into account the guidelines and relevant international agreements. In so doing, each Government should set its own priorities for the protection of consumers in accordance with the economic, social and environmental circumstances of the country and the needs of its population, bearing in mind the costs and its benefits proposed measures.”
(Excerpts from the United Nations Guidelines for consumer protection)
Introduction
1. Law and Justice System reforms have been high on the agenda of international political as well as development, donor and leading agencies for the past two decades or so.2 As a consequence there has been a great deal of debate revolving round the legal reform process, and several new laws previously unheard of in most of the developing countries have been introduced. In addition to international pressures, reforms have also been high on the agenda of civil society organizations. A survey of the history of consumer protection law reveals that it has gained currency more due to the efforts of the civil society organizations working for consumer rights and the spread of market economy along with the growth of globalisation.3 The introduction of United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection has been ascribed to the efforts of international (mostly western) voluntary consumer protection associations andorganizations.4 The very fact that the UN has laid down guidelines for its member countries shows the importance attached to consumer protection internationally.
(a) Brief Background
Certain elements of consumer protection, as understood in our time, can be found
Bibliography: * http://www.un.orgg/esa/sustdev/sdissues/consumption/english.pdf (last visited on 02.08.2006) * http://islandia.law.yale.edu/sela/macedoe.Pdf * New Delhi: B.L.H. Publishers Distributors Pvt. Ltd., 1997; 3rd ed. * Indian Consumer Protection Act, 1986. * http://www.law.cornell.edu/uniform/vol7.html#concc word count (2543 except footnotes and bibliography) [ 2 ]. 5 Sale of Goods Act, 1930 the Pure Food Ordinance, 1960 etc. 6 Supra note 3 at p.3. Eradi Traces the presence of consumer considerations in the Vedic age (5000 BC-2500 BC) 7 Indian Consumer Protection Act, 1986. 10 Uniform Consumer Credit Code, Uniform Sales Practices Act, 1974 & 1968, Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act, 1964 & 1996 (revision). http://www.law.cornell.edu/uniform/vol7.html#concc [ 3 ] Ordinance, 2002 is another such example, which after being enacted is lying dormant. [ 4 ]. 12 Nitya Nanda, “ Competition Policy and Consumer Protection Policy”, in Viewpoint # 1/2005 by CUTS Centre for Competition, Investment & Economic Regulation (CUTS-CCIER), 2005 available at 15 Concerns were expressed by help Line Trust, a Karachi based voluntary consumers association, in a letter addressed to the Editor, Newspost, The News International, April 18, 2005, available at