PESHAWAR: A consumer court in Peshawar has ordered footwear retailer NDURE to pay Rs. 40,020 after finding that charging a customer for a branded shopping bag amounted to an unfair trade practice.
Consumer Court Judge Nasrullah Gandapur announced the decision following a complaint filed by customer Sarah Sial.
The court directed the company to return the Rs. 20 collected for the shopping bag. It also ordered NDURE to pay Rs. 20,000 in compensation to the customer and deposit another Rs. 20,000 into the government treasury.
The ruling highlights growing scrutiny of retailers that charge customers separately for shopping bags carrying their company logos.
According to the court’s findings, Sarah Sial purchased footwear from an NDURE outlet on University Road in Peshawar. The store charged her an additional Rs. 20 for a bag displaying the company’s branding.
She challenged the extra charge through a consumer complaint, arguing against being charged for packaging that also promoted the retailer.
In its decision, the court observed that customers visit shops to purchase products, not to pay for a company’s advertising material.
The judge noted that a shopping bag carrying a retailer’s logo also serves as a promotional tool. Therefore, charging customers for such material makes them bear the cost of advertising the brand.
The court considered the practice unfair and ordered the company to make the required payments.
The total amount of Rs. 40,020 includes three separate components: a Rs. 20 refund, Rs. 20,000 in compensation for the complainant, and a Rs. 20,000 penalty payable to the government.
The case has renewed attention on the retail practice of charging customers for branded packaging. Consumers often receive shopping bags as part of the process of carrying their purchases from stores.
A similar dispute involving clothing retailer Khaadi was also decided by a Peshawar consumer court in September 2026.
In that case, the court ordered the company to refund a Rs. 30 shopping bag charge, pay Rs. 25,000 in compensation and deposit another Rs. 25,000 with the government.
Both decisions have raised questions about retailers charging customers for bags that also advertise their businesses.
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The latest ruling against NDURE reinforces the importance of transparent billing and fair commercial practices. It also highlights the role of consumer courts in addressing complaints over additional retail charges.
