‘Where are consumer protection laws?’

A constitutional petition has been filed in the Sindh High Court (SHC) pleading the promulgation of consumer protection laws in Sindh by establishing separate trial courts to deal with the consumers’ grievances. The petition was filed by Rana Faizul Hassan challenging that no legislation has been made in Sindh by any government in the past causing exploitation of consumers in the province. “The consumers are being looted by traders but none of the provincial governments have taken any initiative for protecting the rights of consumers.”
The petitioner added that consumer protection laws have been promulgated in the other three provinces, Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and separate consumers’ courts also been established that are good enough to provide relief to consumer on daily basis. “In the other three provinces, the district coordination officers (DCOs) are entitled to address the complaints of consumers and take action against the traders involved in illegal acts like selling items on higher rates than allocated by the government or sub-standard items,” he stated, adding that there are no such laws existing in Sindh.
The plaintiff submitted that due to the absence of laws regarding consumer protection, the consumers are continuously being exploited by traders and the prices of essential commodities being increased unofficially, but no legal action has been taken against them so far.
Citing Sindh Chief Secretary, Law Minister, Industrial Minister and City District Government Karachi’s DCO as respondents, the appellant pleaded that the court orders the initiation of legislation regarding consumers’ rights and establishing consumer courts across the province. It was prayed in the petition to issue orders for controlling the price hike on essential items and taking stern action against the traders.