I regret for not being present personally at the 2nd CSR Awards distribution due to circumstances beyond my control, however, I am with you in spirit.

I would like to appreciate the efforts of Helpline Trust for promoting Consumer Rights and for demanding the Consumer Protection Laws and Consumer Courts in Pakistan, which is the need of the hour.

Due to the lack of Consumer Protection Laws and Consumer Courts, our markets are flooded with substandard, counterfeit and look alike foods, beverages and even medicines and presently Pakistan ranks amongst those countries of the world where these products are sold openly in markets.

The proliferation of fake and modified goods is not only hurting the consumers and genuine producers of goods, the menace is also adversely affecting the national economy, government revenues and thereby public-sector socio-economic programmes.

In fact, Mr. Maker had requested me to assist Helpline Trust in this matter and I had written a personal letter to the Governor Sindh, with a request to take up the matter on a priority basis, but unfortunately the political situation prevailing did not allow such a thing to materialize.

I am happy to learn that Helpline Trust has taken the initiative to introduce Anti Counterfeit labels and have requested the Ministry of Health to make it mandatory for life saving drugs. This will be a great service for the sick and the elderly and I offer them my full support in their project.

I would also like to congratulate the 18 companies that have qualified for the CSR Awards, by ‘Putting the Consumer First’. They have clearly demonstrated that they ‘care’ for the consumers and are doing a commendable job by providing quality products at an affordable price to their consumers.

I sincerely hope that Helpline Trust and the Award winning companies will continue their efforts to protect the interests of the consumers and I wish you all the best of luck and assure you of my full support and cooperation at all times. Thank you.

Jst. (Retd) Saiduzzaman Siddiqui
Former Chief Justice of Pakistan