Passage of 26th Amendment welcomed

LAHORE:An NGO welcomes the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, recognising it as a key development for consumer rights and environmental sustainability.

The amendment, which includes the fundamental ‘Right to a Clean and Healthy Environment,’ provides an important foundation for citizens to pursue public interest petitions and class action cases to safeguard the environment. This change reflects global standards, including the United Nations Guidelines on Consumer Protection, which emphasise the importance of sustainable consumption.

In a press statement, Nadeem Iqbal, CEO of TheNetwork for Consumer Protection, highlighted that the new provision strengthens citizens’ rights to a healthy environment, providing the opportunity to protect natural resources and prevent environmental harm. ‘With this amendment, consumers now have a clear path to ensuring environmental laws are enforced,’ he said.

TheNetwork supports the expansion of the Presidential awards to include fields such as science, technology, medicine, arts, and public service. This recognition will broaden the scope of acknowledgment for various professionals, encouraging contributions from sectors like healthcare and IT startups. TheNetwork calls on authorities to ensure swift implementation of these changes, which will promote consumer rights, environmental protection, and transparency in governance.