The Consumers Associations of Pakistan. (CAP) was setup on 13th September, 2003 to protect and educate consumers. It is the aim of CAP to represent consumers making sure that their needs as consumers of goods and services are given higher priority,
CAP is an independent, non-profit and non-government organisation.
AIMS & WORKS:
The aims of the Association are to maintain and improve the standard of goods and services rendered to the public and to promote and advance public knowledge on all matters concerning users and consumers of materials, and goods and services of all kinds.
THE ASSOCIATION FURTHERS THESE AIMS BY:
-- Promoting action to safeguard the interests of consumers, ensuring that those who take decision which will affect the consumer can have a balanced and authoritative view of the interests of consumers before them
-- Insisting that the interest of all consumers are taken into account
-- Making representations of the views of consumers on all matters of concern to them to Local and Central Government, Governments Agencies, Industry and other quarter where the company see fit including representation on the existing law and on proposed legislation.
-- Representing the consumer on appropriate Government and other bodies or international organisation including those, which exist within the framework of the Consumers International
-- To strengthen the growth of the organised consumer movement in Pakistan.
-- To resolve consumer issues and problems and promote the rights of consumers and consumerism.
OBJECTS AND GOALS:
-- To research and information from policies which support and safeguard consumer interests;
-- To promote and seek implement of those policies, representing the consumer interest on appropriate bodies;
-- Consultation for those, who seek a consumer view on policies and proposals;
-- Keep in touch with consumer's experiences and concerns;
-- To publish monthly Consumers Magazine;
-- To work with other agencies to achieve beneficial change for consumers;
-- To promote the interests, experience and views of consumers through meetings, reports, interviews, exhibitions, letters and publications;
-- The Association is also concentrates on special areas;
-- Food and food safety Product performance;
-- Finance and financial products;
-- Environment and health issues.
CONSUMER RIGHTS
RIGHT TO BASIC NEEDS:
Which means the rights to basic goods and services which guarantee survival, it include adequate food, clothing, shelter, health care, education and sanitation.
RIGHT TO SAFETY:
Which means the right to be protected against products, production processes and services, which are hazardous to health or life. It includes concerns for consumer's long-term interests as well as their immediate requirements.
RIGHT TO CHOOSE:
Which means the right to have access to variety of products and services at competitive prices, and in the case of monopolies, to have an assurance of satisfactory quality and services at a fair price.
RIGHT TO INFORMED:
Which means the right to make an informed choice or decision. Consumers must be provided with adequate information enabling them to act wisely and responsibly. They must also be protected from misleading or inaccurate publicity material, whether included in advertising, labelling, packing or by other means.
RIGHT TO BE HEARD:
Which means the right to advocate consumer's interests with a view to their receiving full and sympathetic consideration in the formulation and execution of economic and other policies, it includes the right of representation in governmental and other policy making bodies as well as in the development of products and services before they are produced or setup.
RIGHT TO REDRESS:
Which means the right to a fair settlement of just claims. It includes the right to receive compensation for misrepresentation of shoddy goods or unsatisfactory services and the availability of acceptable forms of legal aid or redress for small claims, where necessary.
RIGHT TO CONSUMER EDUCATION:
Which means the right to acquire the knowledge and skills to be an informed consumer throughout life. The right to consumer education incorporates the right to the knowledge and skills needed for talking action to influence factor, which affect consumer decisions.
RIGHT TO A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT:
Which means the right to physical environment that will enhance the quality of life. It includes protection against environmental dangers over which the individual has no control. It acknowledges the need to protect and improve the environment for present and future generations.
CONSUMER RESPONSIBILITIES:
-- The responsibility to be more alert and questioning about the price and quality of goods and services we use;
-- The responsibility to assert ourselves and act to ensure that we get a fair deal;
-- The responsibility to be aware of the impact of our consumption on other citizens;
-- The responsibility to understand the environmental consequences of our consumption;
-- The responsibility to develop the strength and influence to promote and protect our interests;
-- It is clear from these lists that consumer issues have moved beyond a narrow concentration on consumer protection, to embrace and promote a wider agenda;
-- Consumer protection remains an essential part of the work of consumer organisations. But consumer protection is essentially defensive and responsive.
-- To be effective the consumer movement must also be dynamic setting the agenda, defining solutions, shaping opportunities, and interacting with those who provide goods and services in a positive and creative way.
In a modern and growing economy the consumer must be the driving force that requires innovation, forces change and growth, and accepts nothing less than real quality underpinned by genuine choice.
The agenda for the Consumer's Association of Pakistan is to continue to work for the protection of Pakistani consumers in the country, we will also proceed with our endeavours to improve consumer education. The consumer must become more assertive, sometimes in partnership with the producer, and sometimes talking the lead.
PHILOSOPHY:
CAP is not only a consumer body. It is also a development body. What CAP would like to do is:
Create independence amongst consumer. "The Best Protection is Self-Protection".
To crate a wise consumer society.
To co-ordinate and be an advisory body to all the other consumer organisations in Pakistan so that they could achieve their objectives, especially in providing information, education and consumer protection.
The right to basic goods and services which guarantee survival.
The right to be protected against the marketing of goods or the provision of services that are hazardous to health and life.
The right to be protected against dishonest or misleading advertising or labelling.
The right to choose products and services of competitive prices with an assurance of satisfactory quality.
The right to express consumer interests in the making and execution of government policy.
The right to be compensated for misrepresentation, shoddy goods or unsatisfactory services.
The right to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to be an informed consumer.
The right to live and work in an environment which is neither threatening nor dangerous and which permits a life of dignity and well-being.
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