From Zeeshan Mirza
KARACHI: The Sindh government has announced a firm stance against restaurants and other commercial establishments that decline debit and credit card payments from customers.
Officials have stated that stringent action will be taken against businesses such as restaurants, shopping malls, coffee shops, and biryani centres that fail to offer this payment facility to customers, media reported.
In a move to enforce consumer rights, the Sindh Consumer Protection Authority, operating under the Bureau of Supply Prices, has already initiated action by issuing notices to several prominent restaurants located in the Clifton area of Karachi.
These establishments have reportedly been served formal notices for violating the Sindh Consumer Protection Act 2014, and legal proceedings have commenced against them.
Director General Zahid Hussain Shar emphasised the government’s commitment to ensuring businesses provide customers with convenient payment options.
In a statement, he made it clear that all restaurants throughout the province, including those in Karachi, will face strict legal action if they do not offer the facility for debit or credit card payments.
He further stated that the government has taken notice of the issue under Section 23(4) of the authority based on public complaints.
DG Shar said appropriate legal action will be taken against this serious violation, and an inquiry has been launched to provide relief to consumers.
Assistant Director Mir Shahnawaz has issued strict directives to the businesses to immediately cease this violation.
Restaurant owners have been instructed to personally appear or send their authorised representatives to the authority’s office to respond to the notice. It has been made clear that failure to comply will result in strict legal action under the relevant laws.
Shar conveyed a clear message that it is the responsibility of businesses to provide customers with multiple payment options, and no negligence in this regard will be tolerated. He emphasised that consumer rights will be safeguarded at all costs.
Meanwhile, Supreme Court’s Justice Ayesha Malik has written a letter to Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, raising the red flag over the IT Department’s failure to upload her dissenting order in the reserved seats case.
In the letter, Justice Malik stated that both she and Justice Aqeel Abbasi disagreed with majority verdict and issued their order at 3:11pm on Thursday. However, the IT department did not upload it, she said.
She added that even after a follow-up, officials claimed they “could not” upload the order. Calling the non-compliance “unacceptable,” she urged the CJP to step in and ensure the order was uploaded without delay. The matter has sparked concerns over transparency, with critics saying that such actions throw a spanner in the works of justice.
