Islamabad Consumers Protection Act, 1995

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    ISLAMABAD CONSUMERS PROTECTION ACT, 1995  
 
 
 
 
CONTENT 
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SECTIONS: 
 
1.  Short title, extent and commencement. 
2.  Definitions. 
3.  The Council.  
4.  Meetings of the Council. 
5.  Objects and functions of the Council. 
6.  Authority. 
7.  Prohibition of false advertisement etc. 
8.  Procedure for disposal of the complaints. 
8A.  Power to try summarily. 
9.  Penalties. 
10.  Appeal. 
11.  Immunity of the Council, etc. 
12.  Rules. 
 
 
 
 
Updated till 3.8.2022
 
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ISLAMABAD CONSUMERS PROTECTION ACT, 1995 
 
 
                                        ACT NO. III OF 1995 
 
 
An Act to provide for promotion and protection of the interest of consumers  
 
WHEREAS sit is expedient to provide for promotion a nd protection of the interests of 
consumers and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto ; 
 
It is hereby enacted as follows :— 
1. Short title, extent and commencement. —(1) This Act may be called the 
Islamabad Consumers Protection Act, 1995. 
 
(2)   It extends to the Islamabad Capital Territory.  
(3)   It shall come into force at once. 
 
2. Definitions. In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or 
context,— 
 
(a)       “Authority” means the Court of Sessions, Islamabad;  
(b)       “complaint” means— 
(i)      a consumer; 
 
(ii)      a consumer’s association; and 
 
(iii)   the Federal Government, Chief Commissioner,  Islamabad Capital Territory, 
Capital Development Authority, or any person  or  a gency authorized  by 
the  aforesaid on their behalf to file complaint before the Authority; 
 
(c)       “consumer” means any person who— 
 
(i)      buys goods for a consideration which has b een paid or partly paid and 
partly promised to be paid or under any system of d eferred payment or 
hire purchase and includes any user of such goods  but  does  not  include  a  
person  who obtains such goods for re-sale or for a ny commercial purpose; 
or 
(ii)    hires any goods or services for a considera tion which has been paid or 
promised or partly paid and partly promised or unde r any system of 
deferred payment and includes any beneficiary of su ch services. 
 (d)       “Council”  means  the  Consumers’  Protection  Council, Islamabad; established 
  under section 3; 
(e)    “Services” includes services of any descript ion which is made available to 
potential users and includes the provision of facil ities in connection with 
banking, financing, insurance, transport, manufactu ring, processing, 
accountancy, supply of electrical, mechanical or an y other form of energy, 
boarding or lodging,   entertainment,   medicine,   education,   construction 
 
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work, amusement, catering, security, or purveying a  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 service; and 
(f)     “unfair  trade  practice”  means  a  trade  practice  which,  for the  purpose  of  
sale,  use  or  supply  of  any  goods,  or  for pr ovision of any service or  for 
their promotion, adopts one or more of the followin g practices, causes loss or 
injury though hoarding, black-marketing, adulterati on, selling of expired drugs, 
food items and commodities unfit for human consumpt ion, or charging for the 
goods and service 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 o r in writing, or by 
chalking on walls or through sign-boards or neon-si gn or by distributing 
pamphlets or by publication in any manner, includin g through 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, 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 agenc y or authority 
or possesses  specified characteristics, performanc e,   accessories,   
uses   or   benefits which such goods or services do not have; 
 
(iv)   falsely representing that the goods or servi ces offered fulfil the 
prescribed standard fixed by local or international authorities; 
 
(v)      giving misleading representation of the ne ed for, or the usefulness of 
any goods or services; 
 
(vi)    falsely giving to the public any warrantly or guarantee of the 
performance, specification, required ingredients, e fficacy 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,  shop  or 
building with specified facilities or with the prom ise to deliver 
possession thereof within a specified period or wit hout any escalation 
in price or by falsely representing that such premi ses, house, shop or 
building is being sold, built or constructed in acc ordance with the 
approved plans, specification and approval of the c oncerned 
authorities; 
 
(viii)   misleading  the  public  concerning  the  price  at  which  a  product  or 
products or goods or services have been, or are ord inarily sold or 
provided; 
 
 
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(ix)   giving  false  or  misleading  facts  regard ing  facilities  available  in  
the private educational institutions or falsely rep resenting that such 
institutions have proper approval of the concerned authorities; 
 
(x)   falsely  representing  for  provision  of  se rvices  by  professionals  and 
experts, including by doctors, engineers, advocates , mechanics, 
teachers, hakeems and spiritual healers; 
 
(xi)    giving false or misleading facts disparagin g the goods, services or trade 
of another person, firms, company or business concern; 
 
(xii)   advertising for the sale or supply at a bar gain 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 impressio n that something is 
being given or offered free of charge when it is fu lly or partly 
covered by the amount charged in the transaction; a nd 
 
 (xiv)   falsely gives description of commodities and services offered through  
            mail order. 
 
3. The Council. —(1) As soon as may be, after the commencement of t his Act, the 
Federal Government may, by notification in the offi cial Gazette, establish the Consumers 
Protection Council, Islamabad. 
 
(2)  The Council shall consist of the following :— 
 
(i) The Chairman, to be appointed by the Federal Go vernment 
from amongst prominent social workers permanently r esiding 
at Isl amabad. 
Chairman  
(ii) Members of Parliament representing Islamabad Capital 
Territory; 
 
Member  
(iii) Chief Commissioner, Islamabad Capital Territo ry, Islamabad; Member  
(iv) Chairman, Capital Development Authority; Member  
 
(v) three representatives  of  the  Consumers  Associat ions  in 
Islamabad;  
 
Member 
(vi) a representative of the Ministry of Interior who sh all not be 
below the rank of Joint Secretary; 
 
Member  
(vii) a representative of the shopkeepers, vendors or manufacturers 
as   recommended   by   the   Chamber   of   Commer ce   and 
Industries, Islamabad; 
Member  
(viii) a representative of the Finance Division who shall not be 
below the rank of Joint Secretary; 
Member  
 
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(ix) a representative of the Ministry of Health who  shall not be 
below the rank of Joint Secretary; 
Member  
(x) a   representative   of   Ministry  of   Food,   Ag riculture   and 
Livestock who shall not be below the rank of Joint Secretary; 
 
Member  
(xi)  a  re present ative  of  the  Minist ry  of  Indust ries  and production  who  shall  not  be  below  the  rank  of  Joint 
Secretary; 
Member  
(xii) a lady so cial wo rker permanent ly residing  at Isl amabad to  be 
appointed by the Federal Government. 
 
Member  
 
(3) The existence of a vacancy in, or defect in the  constitution of, the Council shall not 
invalidate any act or proceedings of the Council. 
 
4. Meetings of the Council. —  (1) The Council shall meet as and when necessary a nd at 
such time and place as the Chairman may fix: 
 
 Provided that not more than a period of two months  shall intervene between the two 
meetings of the Council. 
 
(2) In 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 four members. 
 
5. Objects and functions of the Council, etc.― (1) The objects and functions of the Council 
shall be to determine, promote and protect rights of consumers, including— 
 
(a)    the right of 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 of access to a variety of goods at competitive prices;  
(d)   the right for redressal against unfair trade   practices   of unscrupulous exploitation of 
consumers; 
 
(e)      the right of Consumers’ education; and 
 
(f)       the right of easy availability of essential services. 
 
(2)   The Council shall be responsible for formulat ion of the policies for 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 effective 
implementation; 
 
(3)   For promotion and protection of the interests  of consumers, the Council shall coordinate 
 
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between the Government, manufacturers, producers, suppliers and consumers. 
 
6. Authority.—(1) The Authority shall receive complaints of the c onsumers and those made 
on behalf of the council for investigation and determination thereof. 
 
(2) The Police, Capital Development Authority and o ther agencies of the Federal Government 
and Islamabad Capital Territory Administration shal l act in aid of the Authority for performance of 
its functions under this Act. 
 
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 authorised by law for the sale or hiring of goo ds or services or any property, movable or 
immovable, or solicit deposits for repayment at hig her rates of profits or interest and thereby causes  
loss to any consumer, whether financial or otherwise. 
 
(2) Notwithstanding any punishment provided for mak ing misrepresentation, false or 
misleading advertisement in any other law for the t ime being in force, the company, firm or a person 
making such advertisement shall be liable to pay su ch compensation as the Authority may direct for 
causing loss to the person affected by such advertisement. 
 
8. Procedure for disposal of the complaints .—(1) A complainant may in respect of any 
goods sold or delivered or any service provided or supplied or against any unfair trade practice file a 
complaint with the Authority. 
 
(2)   The Council may, in the case of any unfair tr ade practice coming to its notice, directly 
make complaint to the Authority through an officer authorised by it. 
 
(3)   Where  on  examination  of  the  complaint  r eceived  under  sub- section (1) or sub-
section (2), the Authority is of the opinion that a ny right of the consumer has been infringed, it 
shall cause the notice of the complaint to be serve d on the respondent who shall be required to give 
his reply within a period of seven days. 
 
(4) After considering the complaint and the reply o f the respondent and after providing the 
parties and opportunity of being heard, or if no re ply is received and after such enquiry as the 
Authority may deem appropriate it may pass such orders as the circumstance may require. 
 
1[8A. Power to try summarily .―(1)Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions and in 
addition to the powers exercisable by the Authority  where any right of a consumer is infringed or 
contravened by way of profiteering, hoarding, black- marketing, adulteration of food items, selling of 
expired items of food and other item unfit for human consumption or charging for goods and services 
in excess of the prices fixed by the competent auth ority under any law for the time being in force, it  
shall be tried by a special Magistrate appointed un der section 14A of the Code of Criminal 
Procedure, 1898, (Act VI of 1898) in a summary mann er as provided in sections 262 to 265 of the 
said Code: 
 
Provided that sub-section (2) of section 265, shall not apply. 
 
(2) If a Special Magistrate has reason to believe that any infringement or contravention of any 
right of consumer as stated in sub-section (1) puni shable under this Act has been committed by any 
person, he may enter the place or premises where th e infringement or contravention has been 
committed and try the same or the spot and punish t he defaulter within imprisonment which may 
extend to six months or fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees or with both. 
 
1Insert sec.8A by Act III of 2012, s.2 
 
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 (3) Any person aggrieved by the order of special M agistrate may, within fifteen days prefer 
an appeal to the Authority.] 
 
9. Penalties.—(1) Where any right of consumer required to be pro tected under section 5 of 
the Act is in any way infringed, the person respons ible for such infringement shall be punished 
with imprisonment which may extend to two years, or  with fine which may extend to forty 
thousand rupees, or with both. 
 
(2) Whoever makes advertisement through print or el ectronic-media or by chalking on walls 
or in any other manner in contravention of section 7, he shall be punished with imprisonment which 
may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to thirty thousand rupees, or with both. 
 
(3) The Authority may, where it deems appropriate, order for payment of compensation to the 
consumer to the extent the consumer has suffered an y damage or loss through any unfair trade 
practice. 
 
(4)   The Authority may, where it deems necessary f or protection of the rights of other 
consumers, order for confiscation of any goods or m aterial or direct for their destruction. 
 
10.   Appeal . An appeal against the order of Authority shall li e to the High Court and the 
provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898) in respect of appeals to the High 
Court shall, mutatis mutandis, apply. 
 
11.  Immunity of the Council, etc . No suit, prosecution and other legal proceedings shall 
lie against the Council, its members,  the  Authority  and  other officers and authorities acting unde r 
the directions of the Council or, as the case may b e, the Authority in expect of anything done under 
the provisions of this Act or any rules or orders made thereunder.  
12.  Rules . The Federal Government may, by notification in th e official Gazette, make rules 
for carrying out the purposes of this Act. 
 
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