Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) is a rights-based civil initiative registered under the Trust Act, 1882. Established in 1998, CRCP is an independent, non-profit, and non-governmental organization. It largely works through local fund-raising and engaging volunteers. It is not supported by any industry or commercial sector. It is the first nationalconsumer organization in the country, which approaches the issue of consumer protection in comprehensive and holistic terms. Its vision and strategies have significant cross linkages with both market practices and issues of governance. CRPC is led by a highly qualified team of professionals and they have worked on the core issues of the consumers' community. The Commission plans to establish its chapters in all provinces to achieve its objectives and members of all walks of life will be included.

1. Consumer Rights Commission of
Pakistan
ConsumerRights ACT
Submitby Azhar Hussain
16/03/2016

2. Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan
ConsumerRights CommissionofPakistan (CRCP) isa rights-basedcivil initiativeregisteredunderthe
Trust Act, 1882. Establishedin 1998, CRCP is an independent, non-profit,andnon-governmental
organization.Itlargelyworks through local fund-raisingandengaging volunteers.Itisnot supported
by any industryor commercial sector. It isthe firstnationalconsumerorganization inthecountry,
whichapproachesthe issueof consumerprotection incomprehensive andholisticterms. Its visionand
strategies have significantcrosslinkageswithbothmarket practices and issuesof governance.CRPC is
led by a highlyqualifiedteamofprofessionalsandthey have worked on the core issues ofthe
consumers' community.The Commissionplanstoestablishitschapters inall provincesto achieve its
objectivesand members of all walksof lifewill be included.
CANTONMENTS PURE FOOD ACT, 1966
Legislation:
CantonmentsPure FoodAct, 1966
Jurisdiction:
The cantonmentsinPakistan.
Natureof the Act:
The Act prohibitsthe preparationandthe saleof substandard foodsinthe cantonment areas of
Pakistan.
WEST PAKISTANPURE FOOD ORDINANCE, 1960
Legislation:
West PakistanPure FoodOrdinance,1960
Jurisdiction:
NWFP,Punjab,Sind,Baluchistan,Chitral,Dir,Kalam,Swat,MalaccanProtected Areas and Tribal Area
of Quetta
Division.
Nature of the Ordinance:
The Ordinanceconsolidatesandamendsthe law inrelation to the preparationand the sale offoods.
PAKISTANSTANDARDS AND QUALITY CONTROL
AUTHORITY ACT, 1996
Legislation:
PakistanStandardsandQualityControl Authority Act,

3. 1996
Jurisdiction:
Wholeof Pakistan
Nature of the Act:
To maintainandcontrol qualityandstandardsby granting licensesandcertificates for the use of
standardquality, conformityand/orsafetymarks inrespect of particular article,product or process.
NATURAL GASREGULATORY AUTHORITY1
Legislation:
Natural GasRegulatory AuthorityOrdinance,2000
Jurisdiction:
Wholeof Pakistan
Nature of Authority:
The Authorityisresponsiblefor fosteringcompetition, improvingefficiencyofthe availability,
transportationand distributionofnatural gasby providinglicensesto the natural gasproviders,
regulatingtheir activities,settingthe terms andconditionsofthe licenses,maintainingstandards of
service, and ifappropriaterenewing/cancellinglicenses.
PAKISTAN TELECOMMUNICATIONAUTHORITY
Legislation:
PakistanTelecommunication(Re-Organization) Act,1996
Jurisdiction:
Pakistan
Functionsofthe Authority:
The Authorityisresponsiblefor providinglicensesto telecommunicationserviceprovidersand
regulatingthe telecommunicationsectorin Pakistan,settingthe terms and conditionsofthe licenses,
maintainingstandardsofservice, and ifappropriatere-mewing the license.
CRPC stresses decrease in telecom taxes
For exp;
KARACHI: The ConsumerRightsProtection Council ofPakistan(CRPC) hasurged the Finance Ministry
to provide somerelief to consumers by reducingthe rate oftaxationon telecom services as the masses
are already overburdenedwith heavy taxationinall sectors.

4. Addressinga press conference here CRPC President Shekel Big saidthat the low-incomeworkforce–
masons,plumbers,rickshawdrivers – to the salaried-classandotherprofessionals,telecomservices
have become essential for everyone.
He saidthat 80 percent ofPakistan’stotal subscribers’base was alreadybelow the thresholdof
taxableincome. “Thetaxationrates, as proposedin the federal budget 2014-2015, are unjustifiable.”
“The financeministryshouldimmediatelyreduce withholdingtaxto5 percent andbring the federal
excise duty to a singledigit,” Baigtoldthe media.
The CRPCchief demandedthat the government shouldwithdrawthe newly-imposedinternational
mobileequipmentidentification(IMEI) activationtaxandreduce import dutieson telecom equipment,
since it wouldmake the service expensive for users andslow downmobilebroadbandpenetration.
Telecom services are heavilytaxedin Pakistan,where cellularsubscriberspay close to 40% in taxesto
the government. Accordingto pre-budgetfigures,these taxesincludea 19.5% FED, 15% withholding
tax andother taxes suchas service charges.
Besides, the service providers payadditional taxesthat includeSIM activationcharge,license fees,
universal service fundlevies andother regulatoryfees.
The financeministryonJune 3 reduced FED ontelecom services by 1% to 18.5%, whichaccordingto
the telecom industryis applicableonlyinthe case ofIslamabadand Baluchistan.
The governmentalsoproposed to reduce withholdingtaxfrom15% to 14%. Besides, the government
alsointroduceda new taxof Rs250 on the purchaseof new mobilephones inform of IMEI activation
tax.
Many consumershave asked usto raisethe issueof hightaxationon telecom services,Baig told
media.“Throughthis platform[pressconference], we wouldlike to convey our message to the
government forlowering the taxationontelecom services,” he said.
On every Rs100 prepaidcard, consumers payRs26.60 in taxes, the CRPC chiefsaid.The reductions
proposedin the budget translateinto Rs1.26 in customer’sbenefit, whichis insignificant.
“Wewill appeal to the financeministryto reduce taxes on the telecom services. If the government
doesn’tconsider these requests, we will seek legal options,” Baigsaid.
NATIONAL ELECTRIC POWER REGULATORY
AUTHORITY
Legislation:
RegulationofGeneration,TransmissionandDistributionof
Electric Power Act, 1997
Jurisdiction:

5. Pakistan
Functionsofthe Authority:
The Authorityisresponsiblefor providinglicensesto electric power generation,transmissionand
distribution serviceproviders,regulatingthe provisionofelectric power inPakistan,setting the terms
and conditionsofthe licenses, maintainingstandardsofservice,settingtariff,and if appropriatere-
newingthe license.
WAFAQIMOHTASIB (OMBUDSMAN) ORDER, 19831
Legislation:
Establishmentofthe Office of
Wafaqi Mohtasib
(Ombudsman) Order, 1983
2. Nature ofthe Act:
The Order providesfor the appointmentof the Wafaqi Mohtasib(Ombudsman) todiagnose,
investigate,redress and rectify anyinjusticedone to a person throughmaladministration.
NORTH WESTFRONTIER PROVINCE
CONSUMERPROTECTION ACT, 1997
Legislation:
North WestFrontier Province ConsumerProtectionAct, 1997.
Nature of the Act:
To provide for faircommercial practices, promotionand protectionof consumer interests andspeedy
redress of consumer complaints.
Jurisdiction:
Wholeof NorthWest Frontier Province.
The Act onlyrelates to ‘consumers’,whichis definedin
Section 2(c),
As any person whobuys goodsor hires any goodsor services for a considerationhowsoeverand
specificallyexcludesthe purchaseof goodsfor re-saleor commercial purposes. It alsoincludesany
beneficiary of the services. ‘Goods’ and ‘Services’ are defined in section
Consumers Protection Council:

6. Pursuantto section 10, it isresponsibilityofthe Council to determine, promoteand protect the rights
of consumers,the formulationandimplementationofpoliciesthereto,and coordination betweenthe
Council,manufacturers,producers,suppliersandconsumers,inter alia,inthe following
Matters:
i) Protection againstmarketingof goodswhichare hazardousto lifeandproperty;
ii) The provisionofinformationaboutthequality, quantity,potency,purity,standard andprice of
goodsand services;
iii) Access to a variety of goodsat competitiveprices;
iv) Redress againstunfairtrade practices of unscrupulousexploitationofconsumers;
Reference
CONSUMERLAWS INPAKISTAN
By
MohammadSarwarKhan
Abrar Hafeez
http://www.customstoday.com.pk/crpc-stresses-decrease-in-telecom-taxes/