Gender-sensitive consumer protection strategy formulated
By Hina Kiayani

ISLAMABAD—Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CROP) held a consultative meeting on the issue of "Gender-Sensitive consumer Protection Strategy" with the financial assistant of Department for International Development (DFID). The meeting was attended by the members of civil society, line departments, market committees, women lead groups and elected panel of union councils.
The participants asserted that the strategy would be instrumental to improve the overall well-being of women through their economic, legal and political empowerment in relation to the market and governance process. It will also reduce the health hazards and safety risks, which are connected with the purchase, use and disposal of different goods and services by women consumers.
Ms.Almas Shakoor, Advocacy Officer (CRCP) briefed the participants about the project and provided necessary information regarding project objectives, locale and activities. She told that the project is being implemented in two union councils of city district Rawalpindi namely Lakhan and Dhoke Hassu..
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Amer Ejaz, Project Manager (CRCP) explained the strategy and its rationale. He told that through the implementation of strategy, the women will be able to find the solution of their problems themselves and their empowerment as consumer is the main objective of this strategy. He added that this strategy determines specific role for all the actors that include civil society organizations, legal and political institutions, market committees and traders associations, political leaders and government officials.
The participants lauded the practical efforts regarding Gender-Sensitive Protection Strategy. They affirmed that it would improve thinking of society at local, provincial, and national levels to work for the reduction of health hazards and safety issues of women consumers. It will also empower the women to assert their consumer identity, and get their consumerrelated grievances redressed from the relevant redress forums. Participants also suggested that not only there is a need to focus on the concerns of women in overall consumer-related issues but the consumer related issues are also to be highlighted.