Rising graph of achievements of Consumers Association of Pakistan

Since the formation of Consumers Association of Pakistan on 13th September 2003, CAP is working for promoting consumerism in Pakistan. On this auspicious occasion I feel pleasure to brief about CAP with a will to bring all Pakistans under the umbrella of CAP for developing effective consumer culture.
What is CAP Consumers Association of Pakistan is a non-government, non-profit organisation formed by volunteer individuals who believes in developing sustainable consumption in Pakistan.
Mission of CAP Our mission is to promote the environmentally sustainable consumption concept by protecting, enhancing and articulating the best interest of Pakistani consumers at all levels of government and all sectors of society by educating and creating awareness and environment of fair and ethical trade practices.
Formation of CAP CAP Managing Committee headed by Chairman and supported by advisory council members in the respective fields of expertise. CAP has regional offices in Punjab, Sindh and Islamabad and zonal offices in (Lahore, Gujarnwala and Bahawalpur) are busy in creating awareness among consumers to empower them.
Objectives of CAP
-- To formulate policies for Pakistani Consumers.
-- To promote consumer's rights & responsibilities which are:
-- The right to satisfaction of basic needs.
-- The right to safety.
-- The right to be informed.
-- The right to choose.
-- The right to be heard.
-- The right to redress.
-- The right to consumer education.
-- The right to a healthy environment.
-- To encourage high level of ethical practices in the market.
-- To curb abusive business practices.
-- To develop fair effective market economics.
-- To facilitate development of consumers groups at grass route level.
-- To attain further international co-operation.
-- To ensure follow-up of UN guidelines.
-- To create standard and healthy environment for consumers to live.
Accreditation of CAP Consumers Association of Pakistan is recognised by UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organisation).
CAP is enlisted with the following organisations:
-- Wafaqi Mohtasib Office
-- Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC)
-- United State Agency for International Development (USAID)
-- Global Water Partnership (GWP)
-- European Commission (EC)
-- Association for Airline Passenger Rights, USA (AAPR)
-- Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA)
Partners of CAP CAP is working in the capacity of strategic partner to redress consumers' grievances and to protect consumers' rights.
-- Global Water Partnership (GWP)
-- World Health Organisation (WHO)
-- Gender and Water Alliance (GWA)
-- State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)
-- Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP)
-- Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA)
-- Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA)
-- Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)
-- Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
-- The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI)
-- Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI)
-- Korangi Association of Trade & Industry (KATI)
-- City District Government, Karachi (CDGK)
-- Global Media Links (GML)
Task Force Task Force on Consumers Protection was formed by Ministry of Industries & Commerce, Government of Sindh in Collaboration with Consumers Association of Pakistan under the Chairmanship of Provincial Minister of Industries & Commerce, Government of Sindh.
Awards of CAP & its Members
-- "Best Performance Award" from "United Human Rights Commission of Pakistan"
-- "Best Performance Award 2007" from "Riwaj Foundation"
-- "S.H. Hashmi Memerial Award 2006" from "Karachi Citizens and Welfare Association"
-- "Muhammad Jamil Abbasi Memorial Award-2009" from "All Pakistan Jamiatual Abbasi Welfare Society"
-- "Best Performance Award - Aeteraf-e-kamal" from "Sharmila Art Producation"
-- Best Performance Award - Quaid-e-Awam Bhutto Award" from "United Human Rights Commission of Pakistan
-- "Energy Award 2010" from "Pak Energy Review"
Activity Report / Experiences on Social Development Consumers Association of Pakistan has organised large numbers of conferences, seminars and are listed hereunder:
-- World Consumers Right Day Programme 15th March, 2004; Introduction of CAP to media & consumers.
-- Essay and Model competition on sustainable water consumption in various schools of Karachi.
-- Consumers Forum to discuss "In the Eyes of Patients do Doctor really healed" jointly organised by CAP and Medical and Social Welfare Committee of Art Council.
-- Forum on Banking Services and Consumers Redressal mechanism.
-- Seminar on Empowering Consumers to demand quality goods & services on World Consumers Rights Day 2006.
-- World Consumers Rights Day 2007, walk & seminar at Art Council
-- Seminar on "Accessibility of Affordable Health Care System is the Prime Right of Consumers.
-- Seminar on A Balance of Intellectual Property and Right of Consumers.
-- Joint press conference with CAP & Help Line Trust and demanded to make Consumer Protection ordinance into Act in Sindh.
-- Consumers' Awareness Quiz Programme and Musical Evening on occasion of World Consumer Rights Day 2008, more than 5,000 audience attended.
-- Organize symposium on Empowering Women to demand healthy Environment.
-- Presentation on Eco-Friendly and commercial viable Keenjhar Lake Resort.
-- Conference on Food Security in collaboration with University of Karachi in 2009.
-- World Water Day 2010 "Clean Water for healthy World".
-- World Consumers Rights Day Programme 15th March 2011 on "Empowering Consumers & Role of Government and Industries".
-- Seminar on World Water Day 2011 " Water for Cities - Responding to the Urban Challenge".
Chairman, General Secretary and managing committee members have attended the following forums and obtained special trainings as describe hereunder.
Forums
1) 4th National Consumers Convention at New Delhi
2) Stakeholders Forum in Consumers Affairs (Link & Role of Consumer Group in Standard Setting & Comparative Performance Testing Activities) in Islamabad.
3) Workshop on Standardisation and Certification in Karachi organised by UNIDO
4) Training workshop on Improvement of Quality and Practices in Fisheries Sector
5) PTA Consumers Forum at Lahore
6) Intellectual Property Rights Conference 2011
7) Forum on Protection Against Deceptive Marketing Practices
Special Trainings
-- Energy Conservation Training Workshop on Agriculture, Buildings, Transport, Industry & Power and Clean Development Mechanism organised by National Energy Conservation Centre (ENERCON), Ministry of Environment.
-- Course on "Implementation of ISO-14000" from Pakistan Institute of Management (PIM).
-- Workshop on PEC Bidding / Contract Documents harmonised with PPRA rules organised by Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC).
-- Well versed with HACCP (Hazardous Analysis and Critical Control Points) and prepared HACCP manual of Pasni Fish Processing Plant.
-- Management Training Course in Malaysian by MPDB (Malaysian Palm Oil Development Board).
Specialization Areas of CAP
As a consumer representative body CAP is taking care of Pakistani consumers to demand their basic rights. In this connection the following activities have been carried out.
-- Liaison with consultant of Consumers International
-- Visiting various Bachat Bazar and making arrangements to display banners to control prices of essential goods
-- Participate in surprise visits to control hording in collaboration with CDGK
-- Meeting with heads and concerned officers of various department to address problems faced by consumers including WAPDA, KESC Governor Sindh, Chief Secretary Sindh, Nazims, Naib Nazims, Minister of Food and Agriculture, KCCI, Ministry of Industry, SSGC, Pakistan National Accredited Council (PNAC), Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority, Federal Ministry of Environment and many more.
-- The following issues were also taken up through CAP:
-- Adulteration in food items
-- To control price hike
-- Demand for magisterial power of City District Government Officers
-- Identification of tooth pastes containing steroid
-- Consumer unity against makers of substandard products
-- Alert on consumer financing schemes fleecing consumer
-- Stop exporting meat
-- Abolish surcharge on import of meat
-- Quality control on import of vegetable & meat from India
-- Press conference to Abolish Oil Company Advisory Council
-- Increase in Price of CNG Kits
-- Demanded and Participated in efforts to establish consumers courts and promulgation of Consumers Protection Act in all four provinces of Pakistan
-- Participate in TV talk show and radio programme on consumer's rights and environment
-- For consumers safety demanded to enforce National Quality Policy effectively
-- Give suggestions to the President and Prime Minister for the following:
-- Establishment of Consumers Affair Ministry, Most Needed Democratic Institution
-- "Citizen Charter" a voluntary commitment by service Providers to Ensure Good Governance through Transparency and Accountability
Consumers Choice Award
The CCA is being held for 7th time and the idea behind this is appreciated and we got overwhelming response because this award is being act as a bridge among consumers, manufactures and service providers. This award becomes a tool for promoting healthy consumerism in the country and guides consumers about quality goods and services.
Conclusion
On this auspicious occasion of Consumers Choice Award 2011, I, on behalf of CAP must congratulate all award winners who choose to be quality conscious and care for Pakistani. Although we need more efforts for consumers but within a shorter period we are able to create consumers culture in our country to quite an extent and all consumers must come forward and win the war to establish consumers' sovereignty.