Seminar on eliminating the menace of counterfeit products

KARACHI, July 27 (PR): Helpline Trust and Ali Associates organized a seminar on Reshaping Pakistan's Industry - "Eliminating the Menace of Counterfeit Products', at a local hotel, which was chaired by Mr. Justice (Retd) Saiduzzaman Siddiqui, former Chief Justice of Pakistan and Chairman, The Law Foundation.
The objectives of the seminar were to highlight issues relating to the menace of counterfeit products and the need to protect consumers against sub-standard, adulterated and counterfeit products and services. The seminar covered a range of topics relating to Consumer Protection Laws, promoting quality and standards, enforcing these laws and standards and the role of Anti Counterfeit Labels in protecting consumers.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Hamid Maker, Founder Trustee, Helpline Trust, highlighted the problems of counterfeit products and medicines and how the consumers were being cheated by glossy and misleading advertisements. He gave a detailed presentation of this menace and what Helpline Trust was doing to counter the problem of counterfeiting.
Mr. Ali Kabir Shah, Partner, Ali & Associates, stated that the Internet is a Consumer's best friend and it allows consumers to be better informed and enhances accessibility. He also stated about the online copyright violation and piracy is a global problem and Pakistan is the only country where many Internet Service Providers set up ftp servers dedicated to illegal downloads.
Mr. Muneer A. Esmail, GM - Marketing Services, PSO stated that 25% of all Oil Cans in the markets are counterfeit and Anti-Counterfeiting measures taken by oil companies include: Can design moulds, Break off caps, seals, shrink wrapping, color coded seals, oil color changes, test labs and spot checking etc.
He also stated that malfunctioning of the engine and Health problems due to tailpipe emissions of harmful & sometimes carcinogenic pollutants.
Justice (Retd) Saiduzzaman Siddiqui highlighted the dangers and menace of counterfeit products and stressed the need for stronger and more effective laws and stronger action by the government agencies and departments.
He stated that 'The Consumer Protection Law, Sindh, was signed by the Governor, Sindh, three times, but has lapsed, as it was never presented to the SA for ratification'.
'It is high time that the government took the issue of counterfeiting, Intellectual Propriety Rights violation and Consumer Protection seriously and take effective action to curb this menace. The government must establish Consumer Protection Law and Consumer Courts without any further delay'.
Other speakers, who spoke on the occasion, included Mr. Zahid Saeed, MD, Indus Pharma (Pvt) Limited, & Former Chairman, PPMA, Mr. Alberto Barbieri, CEO, LandiRenzo Pakistan and Mr. Saathi M. Ishaque, Chairman, Drug Court & Commercial Court Sindh.
They all emphasized the need for action against the dangers of counterfeit products and the harm that they were doing to the economy and to the health of the consumers. The seminar ended with the distribution of plaque certificates to the participants.