Mukhtar Ahmed Ali, Executive Coordinator CRCP, said that comparative tests of a sizeable sample of home appliances were undertaken as part of a study conducted by CRCP in the Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, which found bulbs, tube-lights, chokes, fans, irons and other appliances below standard. He said during tests, shortcomings like a higher electricity consumption level, below standard service delivery and unsatisfactory air delivery and less speed were found in fans. In some brands of bulbs, power consumption level was found above the specification while burning life and light intensity were not up to the mark. He said that power consumption level in irons was higher than the specified limits, thermostat functioning was unsatisfactory and the manufacturing and insulation level was poor. Similarly, cable size was below standard and there was not much difference in wire standard of different fans despite notable difference in prices. He said the study revealed that considerable amount of energy was wasted at the household end. He was of the view that significant amounts of energy could be saved through practical measures. He said if Wapda controls only 10 per cent line losses, it might save Rs. 22 billion annually.

Mr. Kaleeq-uz-Zaman, a legal expert, said consumers have few alternatives in market due to monopolistic practices. This applied especially to utilities He said the system does not provide enough room for a remedy to consumers that necessitate the consumers’ direct participation in the system. “There should also be moral domains for the manufacturers so that the people only pay for what they consume,” he said. Mr. Khaleeq claimed that in certain cases a domestic consumer consuming more than 300 units of electricity has to pay as much as an industrialist, and it happens only due to faulty system.

Eng. Abdul Rasheed Director General Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) said we can save energy with quality management practice and by evolving a national quality infrastructure based on technical regulation, standardization and conformity assessment,” he said. He said National Quality Policy is almost completed and would be introduced soon. A legal framework is an urgent need for preventing supply of unsafe products; evolve an effective certification system, rationalization of quality and conformity system and raising awareness amongst the masses. He said the rules are being framed so that in future every product is tested by the government agencies. “it will be a regular feature and findings of such testing will be made public”, he added.

Mr. Mazhar Siraj, Research Fellow CRCP, said environment is repository of energy resources and excess consumption of energy at various levels poses serious threat to environment. He stressed the need for an increased reliance on renewable energy sources like solar energy and a transition to energy-efficient regimes. He said that in industrial sector 22 per cent energy could be saved without any loss in output. He said that an integrated programme with public-private partnership should be undertaken by using energy conservation as a strategy for environment protection. Moreover regulation needed to be made effective, especially the role of PSQCA and EPAs, while standards for home appliances should be strictly enforced and the government, civil society groups and media should promote responsible consumption attitudes.

Mr. Nadeem Iqbal, a columnist for The News on Sunday, said that coverage of environmental issues was not very high on agenda-setting priorities of print media but still media had contributed a great deal to the cause of environment protection. He was of the view that policies of media organizations did not provide adequate space for journalists to work in this area.

Mr. Matiullah Jan from the Internews, while deliberating on role of electronic media in protection of environment and consumer interests, said that sufficient space was available for journalism in these areas but unfortunately, electronic media was least responsive to such issues, because of being controlled by the state and therefore, highly politicized. He was of the view that almost every big issue in Pakistan was linked to environment and energy such as issues of Kashmir, Kalabagh Dam, nuclear waste etc. He said that electronic media had the best potential to create awareness among consumer about environmental issues, given its wide outreach and capacity to influence the audience through images.

Mr. Amjad Bhatti, Coordinator Journalists Resource Centre (JRC) identified seven areas, where journalists could focus to optimize the coverage of environment. These areas include atmosphere, biodiversity, environmental heritage, human settlement, land resourcing, seed varieties and the linkage between environment and development. He was of the view that journalists could package various issues in these areas in a manner that does not only unearth real facts, but could also be very interesting for the audience of print and electronic media.