March 8, 2005

Islamabad: A gender-sensitive consumer protection strategy is being developed by the Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP), which would specifically focus on problems and grievances, which women face as consumers of goods and services. A baseline survey conducted for the purpose of strategy development has shown that a significant ratio of women faces violation of their legally enforceable rights with respect to market and line departments. Despite this, 99 percent women have never registered even a single complaint against any manufacturer, shopkeeper or government agency.

While giving details at a press briefing organized on the occasion of International Women’s Day, Mr. Mazhar Siraj, Project Manager CRCP, said that the strategy was being developed under Gender Equality Project (GEP), which is funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) and managed by the British Council Pakistan. The strategy would aim at empowerment of women in the context of consumer protection at local level. It would be usable by the civil society organizations, particularly women groups, for protection of the rights of women as consumers, and help them access justice in case of grievances. Although the strategy would be developed within the legal and administrative framework of the Punjab, it would have tremendous potential of replication in other provinces, he said.

Mr. Siraj explained that as first step in the development of strategy, a survey has been conducted in two union councils of Rawalpindi district, Dhoke Hassu and Lakhan, to identify the issues and problems, which women face as consumers of goods and services. The survey results have shown that 47 percent women are illiterate in the area, which partly explains the low access to education Food poisoning is found a recurrent problem; 35 percent women are not satisfied with the quality of food items. Thirty-six percent women complained about overpricing by the shopkeepers. Similarly, 18 per cent women are not satisfied with medicines. With respect to services, the level of dissatisfaction is highest for sanitation; 38 percent women reported that the condition of cleanliness was very bad in the area. 26 percent women are not satisfied with the drinking water quality.

The survey results have reinforced the need for a women-specific consumer protection strategy, as a significant ratio of women face violation of their legally enforceable rights with respect to market and line departments. The results of the survey would be used in developing the strategy, in addition to taking into account the legal and institutional framework for women empowerment and consumer protection.