The conference was organised by the Helpline Trust in collaboration with Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) and Pakistan Certification Bodies Association (PCBA) at a local hotel here on Thursday.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Ghaffar Soomro, Director General, PSQCA said that existing laws to protect the consumers were needed to be enforced through courts. Along moving ahead with the proposal of consumer courts, the law implementing agencies would have to be activated, he asserted.
Dr Soomro stressed that there was a need to lay special emphasis on quality and standard for manufacturing of different items particularly edible things, for which PSQCA was playing its due role effectively.
While appreciating the holding of conference he expressed the hope that it would be helpful in protection of consumer rights and extending to them the legal assistance.
"The rights of consumers are recognised internationally whereas in Pakistan, PSQCA is making efforts to effectively ensure the standard and quality of various items", he added.
Furthermore, the body was creating awareness about the sub-standard items with the support of media, he said and emphasised the need for role of NGOs in protection of consumer rights. He also informed the audience that PSQCA with government support was setting up a consumer's liaison office.
Hamed Maler, Chairman Helpline Trust highlighted the need for creating awareness in public for buying products, which were registered by PSQCA and its logo and registration number was mentioned on the packing.
Besides, the batch number, date of manufacture and expiry, address of the manufacturer and full specification of the ingredients should be shown on the packing and the consumers should check these things before buying. Engineer Zafar Chaudhary and others also spoke on this occasion.