KARACHI (APP) - Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh, Sharmila Farooqui has said that consumers are being provided with substandard, adulterated and counterfeit products and need of hour is to have a law to secure their rights. She made this observation in a letter to Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Friday. She pointed out that consumer protection organisations world over are active as they are encouraged and protected by their government, judiciary and media by introducing and promoting strict consumer protection laws. But, it is unfortunate that there is no effective law in Sindh that could safeguard consumer rights in a real manner, she added. She said that lack of Government support in Pakistan, there are two consumer protection laws - one in Islamabad which was passed by National Assembly in 1995 and other in Punjab introduced in 2004. However these laws were not enforced in the past due to slackness of authorities concerned and political will. Sharmila recalled that Consumer Protection Ordinance Sindh was prepared by a committee set up by Sindh Governor after examining and studying consumer laws in the region and was signed by him on August 12, 2004. But, unfortunately it could not be laid before the Assembly for ratification as a result Sindh is still without a consumer protection law.She said it is also matter of great concern that there are only three active consumer protection organisations, two in Islamabad and one in Karachi, the Consumer Protection Council of Helpline Trust. She observed that sale of junk food in Pakistan is also on the rise, causing diseases among people particularly school going children. Such kind of several-day-old food is openly sold at shops as there is no law to take action against those selling it. In her letter the Advisor noted that in Pakistan the consumers themselves are their own worst enemy as they refuse to exercise their rights and purchase products and accept services without checking price and quality whereas in developed countries and even those in our region consumer protection is a serious business. In our neighbouring country the governemnt has given full support to consumers in this respect and have legislated law as far back in 1985 and established a Ministry for Consumer Affairs, which has been pro-active in protecting the interest of consumers. They have also established about 2000 Consumer Courts to deal with violations of Consumer Protection Law and provide speedy trials and redress consumer complaints. Sharmila Farooqui said media and civil society organisations should come forward to raise awareness about consumer rights, so that they do not purchase junk and adulterated food. Consumer protection law, if passed by Sindh Assembly, would help take action against callous manufacturers and wholesalers who are flooding markets with junk, substandard, adulterated food, beverages and medicines. She requested the Chief Minister to direct the department of Law to take immediate steps to examine and update the Consumer Protection Ordinance which was enforced by Governor in August 2004 and place it before the Sindh Assembly for legislation in its next session.