Islamabad Consumers Protection Act, 1995

This law protects consumers within the Islamabad Capital Territory from unfair trade practices, false advertising, and substandard goods and services. Section 2(f) gives a long definition of "unfair trade practice," covering things like hoarding, black-marketing, selling expired or adulterated food, overcharging above fixed prices, and various kinds of false or misleading claims about goods or services, such as fake quality claims, disguising used goods as new, false claims of official approval, misleading pricing, and fake warranties.

Section 3 establishes the Consumers' Protection Council, Islamabad, a body chaired by a prominent social worker and including members of Parliament, the Chief Commissioner, the CDA chairman, consumer association representatives, and officials from several federal ministries. Section 5 sets out the Council's objects: protecting consumers from hazardous goods, ensuring information about quality and price, access to variety at competitive prices, redress against exploitation, consumer education, and access to essential services.

Section 6 designates the Court of Sessions, Islamabad, as the "Authority" that receives and decides consumer complaints, with the police, CDA, and other agencies required to assist it. Section 7 prohibits unauthorised or misleading advertisements soliciting sales or deposits at inflated rates that cause loss to consumers; violators can be ordered to pay compensation to the affected consumer. Section 8 sets out the complaint procedure: the Authority serves notice on the respondent, who must reply within seven days, before a decision is made after a hearing.

Section 8A, added in 2012, lets a Special Magistrate try certain serious violations, such as profiteering, hoarding, black-marketing, adulteration, or selling expired or overpriced goods, summarily, with punishment which may extend to six months' imprisonment or a fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees, or both.

Section 9 sets general penalties: imprisonment which may extend to two years, or a fine which may extend to forty thousand rupees, or both, for infringing a consumer's rights under Section 5; imprisonment which may extend to two years, or a fine which may extend to thirty thousand rupees, or both, for prohibited advertising under Section 7; plus the Authority can order compensation and confiscation or destruction of offending goods. Section 10 allows appeal to the High Court, and Section 11 gives immunity to the Council and Authority for actions taken in good faith.