To sensitize the neglected issue of consumer protection and commemorate World Consumer Rights Day, Helpline Trust and Pakistan Certification Bodies Association organized a two days Regional Conference on "Building Partnerships for Strong Consumer Protection in South East Asia" at a local hotel in Karachi, on 28th & 29th March 06.

The theme of the conference was a continuation of last year's conference. It covered a wide range of topics relating to Compliance Strategies, Consumer interests, Role of IPR/Advertising/Standards/Laws and Policy in consumer protection and Consumer Protection scenario in South Asia.

Conference was attended by delegates from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Fiji and Pakistan and was inaugurated by Mr. Shehryar Khan, Joint Advisor MoST, on behalf the Federal Minister for Science and Technology and lit the first candle on behalf of the Government of Pakistan. The visiting delegates than lit the candles on behalf of their organizations.

Mr. Hamid Maker, Chairman, Helpline Trust, in his welcome address, briefed the participants about the background and the activities of the Helpline Trust and also dwelt upon the present poor state of consumer protection in the country and stressed upon the need to have strong consumer laws and their enforcement.

Mr. Bejon Misra, CEO, Voice, India, in his speech gave the call of "Jago Gehrak Jago" to the consumers of the region and stressing the need for working together for strong consumer laws. He also suggested to jointly bringing out a Consumer Voice magazine, which will give comparison of different products based on the tests results.

Engr. Zafar Chaudhry, President, PCBA, in his presentation on Regulation, Co-regulation, Self-regulation defined various approaches meant for consumer protection and need to have consumer policy developed based on the selected approach. He stressed the need for linking standards development with effective consumer participation.

Mr. A. Ghaffar Soomro, Director General, PSQCA, spoke on the role of PSQCA in serving consumers alongwith the information about essential items needing PSQCA certification. He briefed the participants about the establishment of Consumer Liaison Cell at PSQCA.

Mr. Uchita de Zoysa, Executive Director, Center for Environment & Development, Sri Lanka, gave a presentation about Advancing Sustainable Consumption in Asia and stressed the need that Pakistan becomes a part of this global initiative.

Senator Mrs. Tanvir Khalid, Chairperson, Standing Committee on Cabinet, while chairing the session in her remarks , dwelt at length the ways and means of effective consumer protection and need to take the message to the poor and rural areas, to ensure effective outreach to the majority of consumers.

Mrs. Nasreen Jalil, City Naib Nazim, Karachi who chaired the second day session, dwelt at length the mechanism available for consumer protection at CDGK and need for effective public private partnership in this area. She also stressed the need to take this cause to the Union Council and Mohalla Levels and assured of full support of CDGK in this doing this.

Other who spoke on the occasion were Mr. A. Howk Chowdhury, Director General, BSTI, Bangladesh, Mr. Shafi Parekh, Partner, Training & Development Solution International, Mr. Mubashir H. Ansari, GM EBM, Mr. Affan Haider, Public Affairs Manager, Nestle Pakistan Limited, Mr. Zulfiqar Khan, Khurshid Khan & Associate, Mrs. Kalyanee Shah, President, SEWA Nepal, Ms. Ghazala Nadeem, External Relations Manager, Procter & Gamble Pakistan Pvt. Ltd, Mt. Mazhar Siraj, Fellow Research CRCP, Dr. Saleem QA Manager PSO, Mr. Mahmood Nanji, Director Sales & Marketing, Tapal Tea, Mr. N. Marimuthu, President, ERA, Malaysia, Justice (R) Shaiq Usmani, Usmani & Iqbal Advocate and Solicitors, Mr. Tahirkheli The Network for Consumer Protection in Pakistan.

Mr. Saleem Ahmed Khan, Vice Chairman, Helpline Trust in his closing remarks, lauded the efforts of the Helpline Trust and its staff in furthering the cause of consumer protection in an environment, which is completely hostile.

The delegates have also signed a declaration, emphasizing that the nine billion consumers need to be protected and called South Asian and Pacific Countries in particular and international community in general to work towards consumer protection by evolving International Law on Consumer Protection. It also stressed upon the need to develop and launch consumer protection initiatives largely not available in the developing world, which houses the majority of the world consumers. The declaration also called upon policy makers in South Asian and Pacific Region, to develop action plans for consumer protection with adequate monitoring and measurement process for assessing the effectiveness of consumer protection policies. To foster the objectives of this Declaration, the participants of the Karachi Conference proposed to create an Asian Alliance for Sustainability & Consumer Protection, to develop a common agenda.