As the Consumer rights in Pakistan are not just ignored; they are actively trampled upon at every level and with ever increasing intensity. In a country of over 240 million people, consumers are treated as little more than disposable commodities themselves, subjected to exploitation, cheating and defradulent conduct. From substandard products to fraudulent transactions and unchecked profiteering, the landscape for consumers is bleak, and the reasons behind this dire situation are as infuriating as they are multifaceted. It is an orchestrated failure by those in power to prioritize profits over the people. Social degradation starting from the top had more severe trickled down affect as the whole legal system especially relating to consumer protection has come to a grinding halt with the passage of time, due to penetration of all the conceivable social ills.
Existing consumer protection laws in Pakistan are little more than a farce. Starting from the Islamabad Consumer Protection Act 1995, legislation in provinces may also look good on paper, but their implementation is almost non-existent. Filing a complaint is a cruel joke; it is a drawn-out ordeal designed to exhaust and frustrate anyone seeking justice. Cases drag on for months, often years, leaving the aggrieved with little choice but to abandon their pursuit. This isn’t a failure of the system—it is the system.
Walk into any bazaar or supermarket, and you are likely to encounter an array of counterfeit goods, from fake electronics to hazardous appliances. Food adulteration has reached epidemic proportions.. The health consequences are staggering, ranging from minor illnesses to life-threatening conditions. Yet, regulatory bodies are either asleep at the wheel or complicit in this criminal neglect. Instead of safeguarding the public, they serve as silent enablers for those who put profits over lives.
Medicines, a basic necessity, are no exception. Thousands suffer avoidable complications, and in some cases, fatalities. The lack of enforcement of pharmaceutical regulations is a betrayal of the public trust, and those responsible continue to operate with impunity. The most devastating impact on consumers is by electricity, petroleum products and natural gas tariffs where consumers are cheated the most. Competition is completely non-existent and regulators are there to protect monopolies of the suppliers.
The rise of e-commerce, have become breeding grounds for fraud. Customers are lured in with flashy and deceitful advertisements, only to receive fake, damaged, or completely different products—or worse, nothing inspite of advance payments. There is no oversight, no accountability, and no protection for the millions of Pakistanis who have embraced online shopping out of necessity or convenience.
Adding fuel to the fire is the rampant profiteering that has become a hallmark of Pakistan’s economy. Essential goods—wheat, sugar, cooking oil, and even medicines—see price surges on a regular basis, especially during crises.
Hoarding and artificial shortages are widespread practices, with traders and manufacturers manipulating supply to inflate prices. Nill, ineffective, or manipulated raids, toothless warnings, and temporary price caps that do little to address the root cause. The public, already burdened by inflation and economic instability, is forced to bear the brunt of this greed, resulting into rise of heneous criminal offences.
One of the most frustrating aspects of this entire debacle is the public’s resignation to their fate. Decades of systemic neglect have bred a culture of passivity and hopelessness. Many Pakistanis are unaware of their rights as consumers—rights to safety, information, and redress. Those who are aware often find themselves too disillusioned to take action, knowing the uphill battle they face. This collective apathy serves as a shield for corporations and regulators who exploit the masses with impunity.
This is a societal failure, one that demands urgent and aggressive action on multiple fronts. Laws must not only be updated but enforced with uncompromising rigor. Regulatory bodies need to be dismantled and rebuilt from the ground up, staffed by individuals with the competence and integrity to serve the public interest. Those found guilty of violating consumer rights must face penalties severe enough to serve as a deterrent—fines, license revocations, and, where appropriate, criminal charges.
Fast-track consumer courts are not a luxury but a necessity. Dispute resolution must be swift, affordable, and transparent, giving the public a reliable avenue for justice. Special ADR centres approved by the relevant Consumer Protection Councils may be a positive step. Alongside this, there must be an aggressive, nationwide effort to raise awareness about consumer rights. Businesses, too, must be held accountable in ways they cannot ignore. Public shaming, boycotts, and independent reviews can serve as powerful tools to pressure corporations into ethical practices.
The time for polite appeals and empty promises is over. The neglect of consumer rights in Pakistan is not just a failure of governance—it is an act of complicity. Every day that this neglect continues, lives are put at risk, and the most vulnerable segments of society bear the heaviest burdens. This is not a matter of policy tweaks or incremental change; it is a crisis that demands a complete overhaul of how consumer protection is approached in Pakistan.
The people of Pakistan deserve better. They deserve a system that prioritizes their well-being over corporate profits, that protects them from fraud and exploitation, and that empowers them to demand accountability from those who would harm them. The government must act decisively, and if it will not, the public must rise. This is not just about protecting consumer rights; it is about reclaiming dignity and justice in a system that has long denied both. The writer: is a senior energy lawyer/consultant and an consumer rights activist. Can be reached at [email protected]
(The article reflects the author’s opinion and not necessarily the views of WNAM)
