The Balochistan Consumers Protection Act, 2003

An Act to provide for promotion and protection of the interest of consumers.

Where it is expedient to provide for healthy growth of fair commercial practices, promotion and protection of legitimate interests of consumers speedy redressal of consumers complaints and for matters arising out or connected therewith;

It is hereby enacted as follows:

PART I
PRELIMINARY

1. Short title, extent, commencement and application.
(1) This Act may be called the Balochistan Consumers Protection Act, 2003.

(2) It shall extend to the whole of the Province of Balochistan.

(3) It shall come into force at once.

(4) Save as otherwise expressly exempted by Government through a notification, this act shall apply to all goods and services.

2. Definitions.
In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context.-

(a) “Authority” means the District Coordination Officer of the District concerned;

(b) “Complainant” means:

(i) a consumer;

(ii) a voluntary consumers association subject to such restriction as may be prescribed; and

(iii) Government, concerned Council, District Government or a local body or any person or agency authorized by the aforesaid on their behalf to lodge a complaint before the Court

(c) “Consumer” means any person who:-

(i) buys goods for a consideration which has been paid or promised or partly paid and partly promised to be paid or under any system of deferred payment including hire, purchase and leasing and includes any user of such goods but does not include a person who obtains such goods for re-sale or for any commercial purpose; or

(ii) hires any goods or services for a consideration which has been paid or promised or partly paid and partly promised to be paid or under any system of deferred payment including hire purchase and leasing and includes any beneficiary of such services.

(d) “Council” means Consumers Protection Council established under section 8 of this Act;

(e) “Court” means the Consumer Courts constituted under this Act;

(f) “Defect” means any fault, imperfection or shortcoming in the quality, quantity, potency purity or standard which in relation to the goods is required to be maintained by or under any law for the time being in force or is claimed by the manufacturer or the trader in any manner what so ever;

(g) “Deficiency” means a deficiency or shortcoming in the standard of performance quality and nature of a service which has been undertaken by a person providing the service to a consumer in pursuance of a contract or otherwise or is required to be maintained by or under any law while providing a particular service;

(h) “Goods” means goods as defined in the Sale of Goods Act, 1930 (III of 1930);

(i) “Government” means the Government of Balochistan;

(j) “Laboratory” means a laboratory or organization recognized by Government including the Federal Government and includes any such laboratory or organization established by or under any law for the time being in force, which is maintained, financed or aided by Government including the Federal Government for carrying out analysis or test of any goods with a view to determining whether such goods suffer from any defect;

(k) “Manufacturer” includes a person who-

(i) makes or manufacturers any goods or parts thereof; or

(ii) does not make or manufacture any goods but assembles parts thereof made or manufactured by other and claims the end product to be goods manufactured by himself or

(iii) puts or causes to be put his own mark on any goods made or manufactured by any other manufacturer and claims such goods to be goods made or manufactured by himself;

Explanation.- A branch office of a manufacturer shall not be deemed to be a different manufacturer even though an assembly operation, distributions and sale goods are carried out such branch office;

(l) “Notification” means a notification issued by the Government and published in the official Gazette;

(m) “Prescribed” means prescribed by rules under this Act;

(n) “Services” include services of any description which are made available to potential users and includes the provision of facilities in connection with baking, financing, insurance, transport, manufacturing, processing, accountancy, supply of electrical, mechanical or any other form of energy, boarding or lodging, entertainment, medicine, education, construction work, amusement, catering, security or surveying news or other information, and similar other services, but does not include the rendering of any service free of charge or under the contract of personal services; and

(o) “Unfair trade practice” means a trade practice which a person for the purpose of sale, use or supply of any goods or provision of any service or for their promotion, adopts one or more of the following practices, causes loss or injury through hoarding, black-marketing, adulteration, selling of expired drugs, food items and commodities unfit for human or animals consumption, or charging for the goods and services in excess of the prices fixed by an authority authorized to do so under any law for the time being in force or in furtherance of such sale use or supply makes any statement, whether orally or in writing or by chalking on walls or through sing boards or neon sign or by distributing pamphlets or by publication in any manner, including electronic media, by;

(i) falsely representing that the goods or, as the case may be, services are of a particular standard, quality, quantity, grade composition, model, style or mode;

(ii) falsely representing any rebuilt, second hand, renovated, reconditioned or old goods as new goods;

(iii) falsely representing that the goods or, as the case may be, services have sponsorship or approval of the competent agency or authority or possesses specified characteristics, performance, accessories, use or benefits which such goods or services do not have;

(iv) falsely representing that the goods or services offered fulfil the prescribed standard fixed by local or international authorities;

(v) giving misleading representation of the need for, or the usefulness of any goods or services;

(vi) falsely giving to the public any warranty or guarantee of the performance, specification, required ingredients, efficacy or length of life of a product or any goods that is not based on an adequate or proper tests thereof;

(vii) falsely offering for sale or on lease any premises, house, apartment, shop or building with specified facilities or with the promise to deliver possession thereof within a specified period or without any escalation in price or by falsely representing that such premises, house, apartment, shop or building is being sold, built or constructed in accordance with the approval plans, specification and approval of the concerned authorities;

(viii) misleading the public concerning the price at which a product or products goods or services have been or are ordinarily sold or provided;

(ix) giving false or misleading facts regarding facilities, available in the private educational institutions or falsely representing that such institutions have proper approval of the concerned authorities or affiliated with any private or foreign organizations;

(x) falsely representing for provision of services by professionals and experts including medical practitioners, engineers architects, advocates, mechanics, teachers, Hakeems and spiritual healers;

(xi) giving false or misleading facts disparaging the goods, services or trade of another person, firm, company or business concern;

(xii) advertising for the sale or supply, at a bargain price, of goods or services which are not intended to be offered for sale or supply at such price;

(xiii) offering of gifts, prizes or other items with the intention of not providing them as offered or creating the impression that something is being given or creating the impression that something is being given offered free of charge when it is fully or partly covered by the amount charged in the transaction; and

(xiv) falsely give, description of commodities and service offered through mail order.

3. Act not to supersede other laws.
The provision of this Act shall be in addition to and not in derogation or supersession of the provisions of any other law for the time being in force.

4. Obligation of manufacturers.
(1) Every manufacturer shall publish or mark on every packet or container the maximum retail price, the nature, standard or type and other specifications of the good, therein, the weight, size or volume and date of manufacture and expiry where appropriate, as the case may be having regard to the commercial practice in relation to those goods, the name and address of the manufacturer or in the case of a packer or importer, the trade thereof;

Provided that if any goods are not sold in packed form or in container, it shall be sufficient for the purpose of this sub-section if the required information is exhibited conspicuously in the shop where the sale is being made;

Provided further that if price or catalogue or vendor instructions for the consumer is issued in relation to any goods, it shall be sufficient compliance for the purpose of this sub-section if the required information is published or marked on such catalogue or vendor instructions.

(2) Any trader who sells any goods not marked with information required under sub-section (1) shall incur the liabilities of the disregard of sub-section(1), unless he proves that the manufacturer of the goods or some other person identified by him is responsible for the offence and the onus of proof shall lie on such trader.

5. Prices to be exhibited at business place.
In the absence of a price catalogue for the consumer, every trader shall exhibit conspicuously in his shop or display Center a notice specifying the retail or wholesale price, as the case may be, of all goods available for sale in that shop or display center.

6. Receipts to be issued to the purchaser.
Every trader who sells any goods shall on demand by a purchaser, whether he is a consumer or otherwise, issue to the purchaser a receipt setting out:-

(a) the date of sale;

(b) the specifications and other identifying particulars of the goods sold;

(c) the quantity and price of the goods;

(d) the nature of sale, that is to say, whether wholesale or retail, and

(e) the name and address of the seller:

Provided that if a trader uses an electronic machine for preparation of receipt in respect of the sales made such receipt shall be taken as sufficient compliance with the requirements of this section.

7. Prohibition of false advertisement, etc.
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, no company, firm or person shall advertise in any manner not authorized by law for the sale or hiring of goods or services or any property, movable or immovable, or solicit deposits for repayment at higher rates of profit or interest and thereby causes loss to any consumer, whether financial or otherwise.

(2) Notwithstanding any punishment provided for making misrepresentation, false or misleading advertisement in any other law for the time being in force, the company, firm or a person or undertaking making such advertisement shall be liable to pay such compensation as the Court may direct for causing loss to the person affected by such advertisement.

PART II
THE CONSUMER PROTECTION COUNCIL

8. The Council.
(1) As soon as may be, after the commencement of this Act, Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, establish a Consumer Protection Council on the Provincial level and District level, as it may deem necessary, to devise policies for protecting the consumers from unfair trade practices.

(2) The Council shall consist of a Chairman and such other members as Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, specify.

²[(2-A) The Council be a body cooperate with perpetual succession and a common seal and may sue and be sued in its own name.]²

(3) The existence of vacancy in, or defect in the constitution of the council shall not invalidate any act or proceedings of the Council.

(4) The Council shall observe procedure for conducting its business as may be prescribed.

⁴[8-A. ³[Staff and Inspectors etc.]³
The Council with the prior approval of the Government may from time to time employ officers/officials Inspectors and other employee on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed in the rules.]⁴

9. Meeting of the Council.
(1) The Council shall meet as and when necessary and at such time and place as the Chairman may determine;

Provided that not more than a period of two months shall intervene between the two meetings of the Council.

(2) In the absence of the Chairman, the Members present in the meeting shall elect one of the members to act as Chairman.

(3) The quorum of the meeting of the Council shall be two third of the total members.

⁵[9-A. Consumer Protection Fund.
The Council shall establish, administer and control a Fund to be known as Consumer Protection Fund.

(a) The Fund shall consist of—

(i) such a fund as the provincial government may grant;

(ii) the proceeds from any endowment existing locally or aboard;

(iii) grants of money raised by the Council from local or foreign sources including from international, multinational agencies and donors, for purposes of meeting any of its obligations or discharging any of its duties;

(iv) income from investments and all other sums or property which may in any manner become payable to or vested in the Council in respect of any matter incidental to the exercise of its functions and powers;

(v) Any punitive damage ordered by the Court that the Court may order to be paid into the Fund.

(2) Administration of the Fund. The Council may:

(i) allocate and re-appropriate Fund resources for performance of its functions;

(ii) draw or authorize to draw Fund from the bank accounts;

(iii) verify the annual and half yearly accounts of the Fund.

(iv) approve investment policy and schemes for investment of the Fund;

Provided that no scheme of investment for in any entity of a company shall be approved which is rated below A 1+ for short-term and AAA for long term investment by an accredited credit rating company within the preceding two years;

(v) The Fund shall be operated through an account to be opened in a bank as authorized by the Council.

(vi) The Fund account shall be operated jointly by the Secretary of the Council and one other member nominated for this purpose by the chairperson of the Council.

(vii) All planned expenditures, including funds to be spent on any staffing needs administration expenses, shall have to be approved by the Council, or a special committee approved by the council for this purpose, in advance:

Provided that the Chairperson, in consultation with the Secretary of the Council, may sanction fund upto ten thousand rupees, in advance.

(viii) The Council shall cause the accounts of the Fund and the Council to be audited by a Chartered Accountant every year. In addition, the accounts of the Council and use of the Fund money shall be subject to routine audit by government auditors.

(ix) Balochistan Financial Rules shall be observed in expenditure of all moneys of the Fund.

(x) The accounts of the Council and the use of the Fund money shall be reviewed by the Council at least twice in a year.

(xi) In addition to the purpose outlined in the Act, the Fund may be spent for hiring of legal service or rendering of professional opinion on behalf of a complainant, if in the opinion of the Council public interest may be advanced by such financial and professional assistance.]⁵

10. Objects and functions of the Council.
(1) The object and functions of the Council shall be to determine, promote and protect the rights of consumers, including:-

(a) the right to protection against marketing of goods which are hazardous to life and property;

(b) the right of information about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods and services;

(c) the right to access to a variety of goods at competitive prices;

(d) the right of redressal against unfair trade practices of unscrupulous exploitation of consumers;

(e) the right of consumer’s education;

(f) the right of easy availability of essential services and commodities; and

(g) not to charge an excess price than printed price of the good.

(2) The Council shall be responsible for formulation of policies for the promotion and protection of the rights of consumers, fair and honest trade practices by the manufacturers, producers and suppliers of goods and services in relation to interest of consumers and their effect implementation.

(3) For promotion and protection of the interests of consumers, the Council shall coordinate between the Government, manufacturers, producers, suppliers and consumers.

(4) All persons, bodies or organizations, both official and non-official shall comply with the directions of the council and extend help in advancement of objects and functions.

(5) The Council may implement its policy and direction under this Act through the Authority, for this purpose. The Administration at District as well as Tehsil and Union Council level, Police Department and other agencies of Government shall act in aid of the Authority.

⁶[(6) The Council may designate Specific registered laboratories to carryout any one or more categories of tests based on specialized capacity of laboratory and its proposed cost for carrying out this analysis. Such laboratory shall be known as the designated laboratory for the category of tests.]⁶

11. Delegation of powers.
(1) Government may by notification in the official Gazette direct hat all or any of the powers and functions conferred on the Council shall, subject to such limitations or conditions as it may from time to time impose, be exercised and performed by such member or members of the council or the Authority or by such officer or officer of Government as may be specified.

(2) Government may appoint such officers and staff as it may deem necessary to assist the Council in the performance of its duties and functions, and may regulate their duties.

12. Establishment of Consumer Courts.
Government shall by notification establish as many Courts as necessary to exercise jurisdiction under this Act as such place as it may deem necessary and appoint a Judge for each of such Court or confer upon a Court of Judicial Magistrate to exercise the power of the Court under this Act, in consultation with the High Court of Balochistan.

PART III
DISPOSAL OF COMPLAINTS

13. Jurisdiction of the Court.
(1) Subject to the other provisions of this Act, the court shall have jurisdiction to entertain complaints within the local limits for whose jurisdiction:

(a) the opposite party or each of the opposite parties, where there are more than one, at the time of the institution of the complaint, actually and voluntarily reside or carries on business or personally work for gain; or

(b) any of the opposite parties, where thee are more than one, at the time of the institution of the complaint, actually and voluntarily resides or carries on business, or personally works for gain

Provided that in such case either the permission of the Court is given, or the opposite parties who do not reside, or carry on business or personally work for gain, as the case may be acquiesce in such institution; and

(c) The cause of action wholly or in part arises.

14. Manner in which complaint shall be made.
(1) A complaint in relation to any goods sold or delivered or any service provided, may be filed with the Court by:-

(a) the consumer to whom such goods are sold or delivered or such article is provided: (b) the concerned Council:

(c) any recognized consumers association, notwithstanding that consumer to whom the goods sold or delivered or services provided is a member of such association or not;

(d) an officer of Government authorized in this behalf; and

(e) the authority.

Explanation. For the purpose of this section” recognized consumer” means any voluntary consumer association registered under the Companies Ordinance 1984 (XLV of 1984) or the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (XXI of 1860) or the Voluntary Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance, 1961 or any other law for the time being in force and Consumer Cooperative Societies registered under the Cooperative Societies Act, 1925 or such other association as may be prescribed.

(2) A complaint under this section shall be submitted within ten days of the sale, delivery or rendering of the service;

Provided that the Court having the jurisdiction to hear the complaint may allow a complaint to be filed after ten days and within such time as it may allow if it is satisfied that there was sufficient cause for not filing, it within the aforesaid period:

Provided further that such extension shall not be allowed beyond: -

(i) a period of sixty days from the expiry of the warranty or guarantee period specified by the manufacturer of the goods or seller of the services; and

(ii) if no such period is specified, one year of the date of purchase of the goods or services.

15. Procedure on receipt of complaints.
(1) The Consumer Court shall on receipt of a complaint, if it relates to ay goods:

(a) refer a copy of the complaint to the opposite party mentioned in the complaint directing him to give his version of the case within a period of thirty days or such extended period not exceeding fifteen days

(b) where the opposite party on receipt of complaint referred to him under clause (a) denies or disputes the allegations contained in the complaint, or omits or fails to present his case within the time specified as the case may be, shall proceed to settle the consumer dispute in the manner specified hereinafter;

(c) where the complainant alleges a defect in the goods which cannot be determined without proper analysis or test of the goods the court shall obtain a sample of the goods from complainant seal it and authenticate it in the manner prescribed and refer the sample so sealed to a laboratory along with a direction to make an analysis or test, whichever may be necessary, with a view to find out whether such goods suffer from any defect and to report its findings thereon to the Court within a period of thirty days of the receipt of the reference or within such period as may be extended by the Court.

(d) before sample of the goods is referred to ay laboratory under clause (c), the Court may require the complainant to deposit to the credit of the Court such fees as may be specified, for payment to the laboratory for carrying out the necessary analysis or test in relation to the goods in question. The fees so deposited by the complainant shall be recovered from the opposite party if the test/analysis supports the complainant’s version and paid to the complainant;

(e) on receipt of the report from the laboratory, the Court shall forward a copy of the report along with such remarks as the Court may feel appropriate to the opposite party ad the whole process shall be completed within three months.

(f) if any of the parties disputes the correctness of the findings of the laboratory, or the methods of analysis or test adopted by the laboratory, the Court shall require the opposite party of the complainant to submit in writing his objections in regard to the report of the laboratory;

(g) the Court shall give a reasonable opportunity to both the parties or being heard with regard to the correctness or otherwise of the report of the laboratory and also as to the objection made in relation hereto under clause (f) before making an order under section 16.

⁷[(h) The Court may if it deem appropriate in cases where the complainant is a private person direct Authority of the district where cause of action lies, to investigate the matter and furnish a report to the court within prescribed time.]⁷

⁸[(i) The court shall if the complainant received relates to Services, qualifications of Service provider or any other matter ancillary to the provision of Services refer a copy of the complaint to the apposite party mentioned in the complaint directing him to give his version of the case with in a period of 30 days or such extended period not exceeding 15 days as may be granted.]⁸

(2) The Court shall, if the complaint received relates to goods in respect of which the procedure specified in sub-section (1) cannot be followed, or if the complaint relates to any service: -

(a) refer a copy of such complaint to the opposite party directing him to give his version within a period of thirty days or such extended period not exceeding fifteen days as may be granted by the Court; and

(b) on receipt of the defense of the opposite party, if any under clause (a) proceed to settle the dispute on the basis of evidence produced by the parties.

Provided that if the opposite party does not deny or dispute the allegations made in the complaint, or fails to present his case within the specific period, the dispute shall be settled on the basis of evidence brought by the complainant.

(3) For purpose of this section the Court shall have the same powers as are vested in a Civil Court under the code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (V of 1908) while trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely: -

(a) the summoning and enforcing attendance of any defendant or witness and examining him on oath;

(b) the discovery and production of any document or other material object produceable as evidence;

(c) the receiving of evidence on affidavits;

(d) requisitioning of the report of the concerned analysis or text from the laboratory or from any other relevant sources;

(e) issuing of any commission for the examination of any witness; and

(f) any other mater which may be prescribed.

(4) Every proceeding before the Court shall be deemed to be judicial proceeding within the meaning of section 193 and 228 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 (XIV of 1860), and the Court shall be deemed to be civil court for the purposes of section 195 and Chapter XXXV of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 (V of 1898). Presence of complainant before the Court shall not be required till the accused/respondent has put up appearance before the Court.

16. Finding of the Court.
(1) If after the proceeding conducted under section 15, the Court is satisfied that the goods complaint against suffer from any of the defects specified in the complaint or that any of the allegations contained in the complaint about the services are proved, it shall issue an order to the opposite party directing him to take one or more the following actions, namely: -

(a) to remove defect from the foods in question:

(b) to replace the goods with new goods of similar description which shall be free from any defect;

(c) to return to the complainant the price or as the case may be the charges paid by the complainant;

(d) to do such other thing as may be directed by the Court for adequate and proper compliance with the requirements of section 4, 5 or 6; and

(e) to pay such amount as may be awarded by it as compensation to the consumer for any loss or negligence of the opposite party.

(2) Every order made by the Court under sub-section (1) shall be signed ⁹[and certified copies thereof shall be send to the council after pronouncement of the judgement/order]⁹

17. Penalties.
(1) Where any right of consumer required to be protected under section 10 is in any way infringed, the person responsible for such infringement shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees, or with both and shall also be liable to provide such compensation/relief as ma be determined by the Court.

(2) Whoever makes advertisement through print or electronic media or by chalking on walls or in any other manner in contravention of section 7, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to twenty five thousand rupees, or with both.

(3) The Court may, where it is deemed appropriate, order for payment of compensation to the extent the consumer has suffered any damage or loss through any unfair trade practice.

(4) The Court may where it is deemed necessary for protection of the right of other consumers, order for confiscation of any goods or material or direct for their destruction.

(5) The Court may, where it is deemed appropriate, order for removal of the defect(s) of the product involved or replacement thereof.

18. Appeals.
(1) Any person aggrieved by an order may by the Court may prefer an appeal against such order to the Session Court or High Court as the case may be, with in a period of thirty day from the date of the order, and the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898(Act V of 1898), in respect of appeals to the High Court shall, mutates mutandis, apply.

19. Finality of Orders.
Every order of the Court, if no appeal has been preferred against such order under the provision of this Act shall become final.

20. Dismissal of frivolous or vexatious complaints.
Where a complaint instituted is found to be frivolous or vexatious, the Court may dismiss the complaint and after due notice impose fine on complainant upto an amount not exceeding ten thousand rupees. Appropriate compensation may also be awarded to the respondent from the amount of fine so realized.

21. Principal, liable for offence of agent and servants.
Where any offence under this Act, is committed by an agent or servant of any manufacturer or trader, such offence shall be deemed to have been committed by such manufacturer or trader unless he proves that such offence was committed without his knowledge.

PART IV
MISCELLANEOUS

22. Aid to the Court.
All agencies of Government shall act in aid of the Court for performance of its function under this Act.

¹⁰[22-A. Bar on inspection or search of premises.
(1) Premises of any manufacturer or distributor or retailer shall not be inspected or searched by any official under this ordinance without direction in writing given by the Court.

(2) No public servant shall seek any record from any person or commercial establishment under this ordinance without prior permission of the court.]¹⁰

23. Immunity.
No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against the Council or any member thereof any functionary under this Act or acting under the direction of the Council or Government for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.

24. Power to make rules.
Government may by notification in the official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

25. Power to remove difficulties.
If any difficulties arise in giving affect to any of the provisions of this Act, Government may, make such order not inconsistent with the Provisions of this Act, as may appear to it to be necessary or expedient for removing of the difficulty.