ISLAMABAD: Government policies on electricity and gas are heavily focused on large consumers without any consideration for the resolution of day-to-day problems faced by ordinary citizens.

This is clear from introduction of net metering for solar projects which are beyond the reach of small consumers. Moreover, cheap pipeline gas is available to the urban consumers while those in the rural areas are relying on the expensive LPG and other alternative sources.

This was the crux of speeches made at a seminar, `National conference on state and market: balancing consumer rights in a digital age` organised by the Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP).

The event was held at a local hotel in connection with the Consumer Rights Day.

Energy sector expert Ameenah Sohail said the country had introduced a European system for net meeting under which small con-sumers cannot afford having expensive net metering equipment.

She said the idea was mostly implemented at the government level. On the other hand, when there is a complaint against power companies by consumers, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) hardly takes action.

Under the net metering system, a consumer can install solar panels at their residence to produce electricity for their own use and for sale to the electricity supplying company.

Spealcing about gas-related issues, Ms Sohail said domestic users who used the pipelinegasgotthefacilityatcheaperrates.

But those who don`t have the facility of pipeline gas have to pay more for using LPG and other alternative sources.

Educationist Dr Nazir Mahmood said the major problem due to which the consumers suffered was the lack of transparency.

`After 18th Amendment, though education budgetshave beenincreased across the country, due to the lack of transparency it is very difficult to get accurate data about thefunding at the school level, especially about the lapsed funds. Legislation should be done to ensure all data are available online,` he said.

About private schools, Dr Mahmood said consumers suf fered more as schools not only frequently increased their fees but also forced parents to buy uniforms and books from the shops of their (schools) choice.

Sundus Saleem, a representative of the State Bank, said all banks had been directed to address public complaints within 15 days.

However, complaints regarding financial frauds can be addressed within a month.

`We have also introduced a self-diagnostic mechanism for banks. Moreover, we are trying to address the issues before they take place and are also involving the media for it,` she said.

Minister of State for Finance and Economic Affairs Rana Mohammad Afzal Khan agreed that consumers were being denied their rights by a number of private sector service providers on various counts.

He said even the common vendors were not ready to provide invoices to the buyers.However, the government is working on putting in place a framework to safeguard consumers` rights and empowering them.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Law Barrister Zafarullah Khan promised that a consumer protection council and separate consumer courts would shortly be established in Islamabad.

Expressing the government`s commitment to the establishment of pro-people institutional and legal frameworl(s, Barrister Khan requested the CRCP to share its comments on the right to information legislation.

CRCP Secretary General Abrar Hafeez said the rapid growth of the internet, mobile phones and other digital technologies had created opportunities and challenges for millions of consumers around the world.

Project coordinator for the commission Munir Ahmad said consumers were more vulnerable to exploitative forces because in the absence of a comprehensive legal arrangement they could not find any appropriate forumtogettheirspecificproblemsaddressed.