CRC Receives Excellence Award from Ministry of Commerce
In a prestigious ceremony held at the Pakistan Trade Development Authority headquarters in Islamabad, the Consumer Rights Commission (CRC) was honored with the Excellence in Consumer Protection Award 2024 by the Ministry of Commerce & Trade, Pakistan.
Recognition of Outstanding Service
The award recognizes CRC's exceptional contribution to consumer rights protection and advocacy across Pakistan over the past year. Federal Minister for Commerce, Dr. Gohar Ejaz, personally presented the award, highlighting CRC's innovative approaches and measurable impact in the consumer protection sector.
"CRC has demonstrated exceptional commitment to consumer rights protection, setting new standards for advocacy organizations across Pakistan. Their innovative approaches and measurable impact make them a model for other NGOs." - Ministry of Commerce & Trade
Key Achievements Recognized
The award specifically recognized several of CRC's flagship achievements:
Consumer Impact
- Successfully resolved over 2,500 consumer complaints with 95% satisfaction rate
- Provided free legal aid to 1,200+ consumers facing rights violations
- Conducted awareness workshops reaching 100,000+ consumers nationwide
- Established consumer rights help desks in 25 major cities
Policy Advocacy
- Contributed to drafting of new consumer protection regulations
- Advocated for stronger penalties for businesses violating consumer rights
- Established industry-wide standards for complaint resolution
- Created framework for consumer protection in digital marketplace
Innovation in Service Delivery
- Launched Pakistan's first mobile consumer rights app
- Established 24/7 consumer helpline with multilingual support
- Created online complaint portal with real-time tracking
- Developed consumer rights education curriculum for schools
Industry Recognition
The ceremony was attended by leading business leaders, consumer advocates, and government officials. Several industry representatives praised CRC's collaborative approach to resolving consumer issues while working constructively with businesses to improve practices.
Ahmed Hassan, President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce, noted: "CRC has shown that consumer protection and business growth can go hand in hand. Their professional approach has helped our members improve their customer service standards."
International Standards
The award also recognized CRC's alignment with international best practices in consumer protection. CRC is now the first Pakistani NGO to receive ISO 9001:2015 certification for quality management systems and maintains partnerships with consumer protection organizations in 15 countries.
Looking Forward
Accepting the award, CRC's Executive Director emphasized the organization's commitment to expanding its impact: "This recognition motivates us to reach even more consumers across Pakistan. We're planning to open regional offices in Quetta and Peshawar next year, ensuring that consumer rights protection reaches every corner of our country."
Government Partnership
The Ministry of Commerce announced a three-year partnership agreement with CRC, providing additional funding for consumer protection initiatives and joint policy advocacy efforts. This partnership will enable CRC to scale its operations and reach underserved regions.
The Excellence in Consumer Protection Award 2024 represents not just recognition of past achievements, but a mandate for CRC to continue leading Pakistan's consumer rights movement. With strong government support and proven track record, CRC is well-positioned to make even greater impact in the years ahead.