Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has praised the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) for its strong recent performance, particularly for reducing the backlog of court cases. Speaking in the Senate, he noted that the number of pending cases has dropped from 577 to around 300 over the last two years, thanks to the commission’s proactive litigation efforts.
The minister requested the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue to invite Dr. Kabir Sidhu, Chairman of CCP, for a detailed briefing on the reforms and enforcement actions taken under his leadership. He highlighted that a transparent and competitive regulatory environment is vital for a healthy market economy, and said the CCP’s role has become increasingly important.
Over the past year, the CCP issued 11 major orders, with fines totaling over Rs1 billion, of which Rs120 million has already been recovered. The inquiry process and issuance of show-cause notices have been streamlined, while hearing mechanisms have become faster to ensure timely accountability of anti-competitive practices.
The CCP’s Cartels Department completed 20 inquiries this fiscal year, while the Office of Fair Trade wrapped up 13 investigations into misleading advertisements and deceptive marketing. The Commission also established a Market Intelligence Unit, which identified 170 potential violations in key sectors like banking, telecom, e-commerce, and real estate, launching 28 formal inquiries so far.
Highlighting its role in promoting investment, the CCP approved 69 merger transactions, enabling $30 million in foreign direct investment (FDI). Additionally, the Exemptions Department granted 83 exemptions, easing business processes. A new Centre of Excellence has also been launched to drive research and market analysis, further strengthening the commission’s long-term impact.