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December 16, 2001
Islamabad: Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) welcomes the Access
to Justice policy announced by the government. CRCP believes that the policy,
if properly implemented, would greatly contribute to the furtherance of civil
rights and rule of law in Pakistan. CRCP considers this policy as a success
of citizens, who have been lobbying under the CRCP campaign for Freedom of
Information (FOI) Legislation and Consumer Protection legislation (CPL) in
Pakistan for the last three years.
CRCP hopes that the present regime will ensure the implementation of the policy framework, since the previous regimes have been able to deliver the citizens on these two vital issues. It is note with serous reservations that FOI Ordinance, 1997 was allowed to lapse in order to debar the citizens from 1997 was allowed lapse in order to debar the citizens from having access to information, similarly, the CPL was enacted for Islamabad and NWFP in 1995 and 1997 respectively, but their rules of business have not been crystallized, and hence, remain dormant without any advantage of the citizens.
Freedom of information is the most desired reform having strong linkages with good governance and responsible business practices. FOI is essential for ensuring transparency and accountability in conduct of the government. CRCP believes that information should be a legally enforceable right of the citizens. FOR can empower citizens to make informed market and political choices.
Besides the FOI, citizens as consumers of various goods and services are subject to malpractices by the market, being provided with substandard goods and products. Furthermore, there is no comprehensive legal recourse available to them in case of any grievance towards the manufacturers and civic agencies. CRCP maintains that comprehensive Consumer Protection Legislation can substantially contribute to check the substandard and unsafe goods, besides providing a mechanism for grievance redress.
It is encouraging to note that legislation on Consumer Protection and Freedom of Information have been included in the policy framework. CRCP presented Model Consumer Protection Act and Freedom of Information Act to the government in March 2000 and 2001 respectively. These efforts are indicative of proactive approach on the part of citizens and CRCP, who have for the first time in the history of Pakistan come up with the Model Acts instead of reacting to the official drafts. These Acts have been drafted after extensive consultations with all the stakeholders. Before finalizing them, a comparative analysis of the CPL and FOI Legislation in other countries of the also was also undertaken. Both Acts are comprehensive in that they ensure speedy and inexpensive justice.
CRCP is also thankful to the media, which has been very receptive and responsive the issues of freedom of information and consumer protection, and particularly, to the proposed laws. The access to justice policy framework envisaging the rule of law gives a moral boost to citizen' efforts to in their rights. However the success of the said policy framework would largely depend on subsequent enactment of these laws and the capacity of citizens, bar councils, and civil society organizations to make use of these legislation.
CRCP requests the concerned citizens and organizations to forward and join hands with its campaign for FOI and CPL and thus, support the cause of freedom of information and consumer protection and to ensure the spirit of the Model Acts in the forthcoming legislation.
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