CCP’s Rs1B Cartel Bust Boosts Pakistan’s Market Fairness

Under MNA Shahida Begum’s leadership, Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu, head of the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), shared a robust overview of the agency’s groundbreaking strides in tackling monopolistic schemes and fraudulent tactics.

Dr. Sidhu announced that the CCP has cut its pending legal cases by over half, reducing the backlog from 567 to 280. This year marked a historic high with 224 cases resolved across various courts—the most in any single year. He highlighted a remarkable shift: while the CCP had previously secured only Rs200 million in penalties since its start, it has now amassed nearly Rs1 billion since August 2023.

The committee was briefed on the CCP’s aggressive stance against collusion, issuing 14 enforcement actions against cartels with fines exceeding Rs1 billion. The commission also concluded 20 investigations into cartel activities and market dominance abuses, plus 18 inquiries into deceptive advertising practices.

The CCP’s Market Intelligence Unit (MIU) pinpointed 200 potential violations, strengthening the agency’s enforcement drive. Dr. Sidhu introduced the new Centre of Excellence in Competition Law, designed to advance research, training, and policy innovation. Additionally, the CCP approved 117 mergers and acquisitions, enabling Rs29 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI).