Despite having all the facilities from Pakistani authorities and monopolistic prices on Hajj and Umrah operations, PIA made a loss of PKR 5 Billion in 2008, according to this report. It was 1.9 billion in 2007 (see news item)
The easiest way to destroy a business, especially service business, is not paying heed to customers complaints. The following is an account of Mr. Nasir, who is from Ralawalpindi and is based in Atlanta , GA. I leave the conclusion of his ordeal to the readers. This complaint from a consumer is evidence of the state of affairs at PIA.
I travelled out of United States on 27th January 2008 and purchased return ticket from this company to fly with PIA ( Pakistan International Airline ) ticket from Peak Time Express Inc., 5430 Jimmy Carter blvd, Suite nbr 110, Norcross-Ga-30093. My seats were confirmed when i started my travel. Approximately a week before my return date i went to PIA's Rawalpindi office in Pakistan and was told that my ISB-LHE segment and JFK-ATL segment are still in confirmed status but LHE-JFK segment has been cancelled. Upon my inquiry I was told that my travel agent has cancelled my LHE-JFK segment of travel. I called my travel agent from pakistan and he denied, saying he did not cancel my seat whereas PIA's PNR history shows agent code in cancellation on June 17th afternoon time. I have no concern wether PIA did this breach or this Travel agent, bottom line is that I faced the consequences of this unethical act and business malpractice causing me MENTAL STRESS and i had to beg lots of Airline people to get me on some flight so I dont face financial losses by missing my worktime, I had to spend lots of money travelling between different offices of PIA in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. I was given seat on 12TH July flight for LHE-JFK segment and re-adjustment on ISB-LHE AND JFL-ATL segments. In addition to this stress and unhealthy practice I had to Pay a big sum of money for travel class change from N to K class and CHANGE OF TRAVEL DATE, WHICH WAS NEVER MY FAULT. I would like to plead for justice and compensation for my mental stress and financial loss. I will provide whatever documents I have collected ,for in support of my case. Where should I go and ask for justic against this Airline and the Travel Agent? Please help and advice legally.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Telecom Consumer Awareness in Pakistan
Pakistan’s telecom sector has seen phenomenal progress during last ten years or so. It was deregulated in 1996 by the then government. Since then, there has been no looking back. It has more than 48 million cell phone users, and nearly 1.5 million wireless phone users. Landline is still dominant, but not the market leader anymore.
Though this phenomenal growth has brought huge benefits to the people of Pakistan, yet it has its bad effects also. As Pakistan has ineffective and outdated consumer protection laws, the consumers are being fleeced by every kind manufacturer/business including these giant telecom operators. Wrong billing, deceptive price formulas, connectivity, clarity of voice, sale of used prepaid cards, deceptive advertisements, and lack of any compensation for damages incurred due to bad service of telecom operator are only a few.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority established a complaint cell back in 2002 ,mainly to “facilitate and resolve the complaints made by an individual or a group against Telecommunication services”. Consumers can report a company on a toll free number (0800-55055) or using an online form. However there is no public information about the volume of complaints or its rate of successful resolution of these complaints. Judging from the situation, PTA complaint cell performance has been unsatisfactory.
Customers’ lack of awareness about their rights augments the problem. Most of the people do not know that they can complain or even sue a company for bad service or overcharging. Their complaints are seldom listened and even rarely resolved. Some people have been in touch with an independent Consumer Complaint Cell being run by The Network for Consumer Protection in Pakistan and have come to know that small problems are not resolved by the companies for which people have to turn to Consumer Complaint Cell.
Experts believe that this is happening because telecom users are not organized and do not have any say in these affairs. Telecom users need to get organized and establish an Association: Telecom Consumers Association, Pakistan (TCPA) that represents them and guides them in telecom related issues. The Association could make demands on these companies on behalf of telecom consumers. If a company does not behave, it can ask its members to boycott such company.
Experts also suggest that the Association take up following functions:
1. create awareness among consumers about their rights with special focus on telecom consumers.
2. conduct quality and popularity surveys independently and let the consumers know which company offers best service.
3. keep an eye on the advertisements being aired by telecom operators and warn (or even sue) companies about unethical or deceptive advertisements.
4. inform its members and public about misleading advertisements of telecom operators.
5. have a good liaison with telecom operators to inform them about consumer issues and concerns.
6. mobilize telecom consumers to arrange peaceful protest rallies against companies that indulge in anti-consumer activities.
7. support and encourage Pakistan Telecom Authority to be tough on companies to protect consumers.
8. take up issues like reduction of broadband price and Mobile Number Portability and pressurize large companies to become consumer friendly.
9. mobilize policy makers/law makers to enact and implement consumer protection laws especially with provisions for compensation.
Though this phenomenal growth has brought huge benefits to the people of Pakistan, yet it has its bad effects also. As Pakistan has ineffective and outdated consumer protection laws, the consumers are being fleeced by every kind manufacturer/business including these giant telecom operators. Wrong billing, deceptive price formulas, connectivity, clarity of voice, sale of used prepaid cards, deceptive advertisements, and lack of any compensation for damages incurred due to bad service of telecom operator are only a few.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority established a complaint cell back in 2002 ,mainly to “facilitate and resolve the complaints made by an individual or a group against Telecommunication services”. Consumers can report a company on a toll free number (0800-55055) or using an online form. However there is no public information about the volume of complaints or its rate of successful resolution of these complaints. Judging from the situation, PTA complaint cell performance has been unsatisfactory.
Customers’ lack of awareness about their rights augments the problem. Most of the people do not know that they can complain or even sue a company for bad service or overcharging. Their complaints are seldom listened and even rarely resolved. Some people have been in touch with an independent Consumer Complaint Cell being run by The Network for Consumer Protection in Pakistan and have come to know that small problems are not resolved by the companies for which people have to turn to Consumer Complaint Cell.
Experts believe that this is happening because telecom users are not organized and do not have any say in these affairs. Telecom users need to get organized and establish an Association: Telecom Consumers Association, Pakistan (TCPA) that represents them and guides them in telecom related issues. The Association could make demands on these companies on behalf of telecom consumers. If a company does not behave, it can ask its members to boycott such company.
Experts also suggest that the Association take up following functions:
1. create awareness among consumers about their rights with special focus on telecom consumers.
2. conduct quality and popularity surveys independently and let the consumers know which company offers best service.
3. keep an eye on the advertisements being aired by telecom operators and warn (or even sue) companies about unethical or deceptive advertisements.
4. inform its members and public about misleading advertisements of telecom operators.
5. have a good liaison with telecom operators to inform them about consumer issues and concerns.
6. mobilize telecom consumers to arrange peaceful protest rallies against companies that indulge in anti-consumer activities.
7. support and encourage Pakistan Telecom Authority to be tough on companies to protect consumers.
8. take up issues like reduction of broadband price and Mobile Number Portability and pressurize large companies to become consumer friendly.
9. mobilize policy makers/law makers to enact and implement consumer protection laws especially with provisions for compensation.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
lays chips are NOT Halal
Lays chips has provided explanation for the pig fats content in its chips.
Its great to read that they have done a research on Daily Umaat and also Syed Ahmad Abbasi.
why don’t theySUE him …. why don’t theyfile a case against him if he is such a black mailer ?
Boss, if some body is pointing finger on you than remember there must be some thing wrong with you. why some body is not saying any thing wrong against National Products (I have no relations with them - its just for example), or why some body is not pointing finger on pepsi or coke or some thing like these big giants … ?
I am damn sure they can pay much better than the Lays company 
to shut their mouth.
thanks for praying for us all. “May Allaha Show us right path and save us for these kinds of money makers those have no care about we Muslims and shaking our EMAN to saying Halal to Haram Food or vice versa”
Its great to read that you have done a research on Daily Umaat and also Syed Ahmad Abbasi.
why don’t you SUE him …. why don’t you file a case against him if he is such a black mailer ?
Boss, if some body is pointing finger on you than remember there must be some thing wrong with you. why some body is not saying any thing wrong against National Products (I have no relations with them - its just for example), or why some body is not pointing finger on pepsi or coke or some thing like these big giants … ?
I am damn sure they can pay much better than the Lays company to shut their mouth.
thanks for praying for us all. “May Allaha Show us right path and save us for these kinds of money makers those have no care about we Muslims and shaking our EMAN to saying Halal to Haram Food or vice versa”
E631 : Sodium inosinate
Produce from FAT, but not FAT. it becomes Salt after a chemical process
“Vineger” produce from Alcohol, but not Alcohol after a chemical process. (Fermentation of Vine Juice)
Origin:
=====
Sodium salt of inosinic acid (E630), a natural acid, that is mainly present in animals. => Commercially prepared from meat or fish <= (sardines). After a chemical process. May also be produced by bacterial fermentation of sugars.
Function & Characteristics:
====================
Flavour enhancer. Inosinic acid and inosinates do not have the specific umami taste but strongly enhance many other flavours, thereby reducing the amounts of salt or other flavour enhancers needed in a product.
Products:
=======
Used in many products.
Acceptable daily intake (ADI):
None determined. Inosinates may not be used in products intended for children under 12 weeks.
Side effects:
=========
Asthmatic people should avoid inosinates. As inosinates are metabolised to purines, they should be avoided by people suffering from gout. However, the concentrations used are generally so low that no effects are to be expected.
Dietary restrictions:
==============
Inosinates are generally produced from meat, but partly also from fish
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)