Consumer Fraud
Last updated
Last updated
Consumers in Pakistan have virtually no functional and trustworthy consumer protection agencies to look after their interest. Fake and contaminated products (particularly packaged foods and medicine) are found everywhere and behind each brand is a powerful and well financed company with an 'Army of Lawyer' guarding and defending their dirty secrets. Legal costs can run so high that no one bothers to litigate.
Majority of the medical related problems stem from unchecked and runaway consumption of Cola’s, refined carbohydrates, refined sugars, contaminated dairy, fats and bread - and there is frankly no one to check the obscene profiteering by large and powerful corporations. The increase in obesity, heart disease, sugar related diseases, dental diseases, loss of bone density, and even cancer is linked to consumption of a poor quality ‘poison’ diet. In Pakistan (and many other countries), there is a sharp rise in demand for hospitals and pharmacies and hardly any emphasis is placed on preventive care. The unholy alliance between these corporations, hospitals, doctors and pharmacies and the corrupt govt. departments and officials is alarming and no one seems to care. And if someone does care, they just don't have the capital to take on the powerful mafia, so the beast gets larger.
Lack of education and information on preventive care is THE main reason for a rise in diseases and health problems mentioned above. Children in Pakistan are the most vulnerable as they are bombarded with advertisement of Cola Drinks, Candy, Snacks full of refined Carbohydrate and snacks containing high salt levels and unhealthy preservatives. This inducement through advertisement is extreme during cricket matches, holidays or other 'captive audience' opportunities.
Negligence by the State goes unchecked and unpunished. Citizen's lose their lives or incur severe physical injuries, mental health damages and financial loss due to State's negligence in infrastructure maintenance such as unsafe roads, bridges, electric grids, fire hazards etc. How many times do we hear of accidents caused by 'pot holes' in the middle of a road or people getting electrocuted due to obscenely tangled high voltage electric wiring carelessly strung up in public places. In almost all cases, hollow statements are made by officials 'after the accident' calling for a 'committee of inquiry' but nothing ever happens beyond this lip-service. Even if the media reports the incident, the media never follow through as they are more focused on 'breaking news' and newer stories and the older incidents just rot in the archives.