TRADE ASSOCIATIONS URGED TO AVOID PRICE FIXING

ISLAMABAD, 05 JANUARY 2016:

Collectively fixing the prices of goods and services is a serious violation of the Competition Law and trade associations must avoid making anti-competitive agreements to fix prices.

This was stated by senior officials of the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) while addressing a seminar at the Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) organized by CCP as part of the National Road Show on Competition Law. The seminar was attended by the founder Chairman PPA Mr. Khalil A Sattar, sitting Chairman PPA Mr. Khalid Saleem Malik, CCP Member Office of Fair Trade and Advocacy Shahzad Ansar, Member Cartels & Trade Abuses and Legal Ikram Ul Haque Qureshi, DG Cartels & Trade Abuses Shaista Bano, Director Advocacy Asfandyar Khattak, and executive committee members of PPA in large number.

The PPA Chairman in his welcome speech highlighted the importance of competition for the economic progress of the country and urged the business community to fully understand the provisions of the Law for the better compliance. A briefing was also given on the Poultry sector of Pakistan by the founder Chairman PPA. He praised the CCP’s initiative of approaching the businesses across the country saying this exercise will have a great impact on creating a compliant business culture.

Ikram Ul Haque Qureshi, Member CCP, in his presentation said that the Competition Law prohibits trade associations from indulging into anti-competitive activities such as price fixing, quota allocation, territorial distribution, and sharing of market for the goods or services. He said that CCP is ready to assist associations and other business undertakings with the compliance of the Competition Law. He explained the key provisions of the Competition Act to the participants.

Dr. Shahzad Ansar, Member CCP, in his speech said that the Competition Act protects the consumers from deceptive marketing practices adding that the Competition Act forbids the false and deceptive claims having no reasonable basis and the fraudulent use of the trademarks of other undertakings. The participants of the seminar actively took part in the interactive session and appreciated the opportunity of interaction with CCP.

A group photograph of CCP Members Shahzad Ansar and Ikram Ul Haque Qureshi with the participants of a seminar at the Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) organized by CCP as part of the National Road Show on Competition Law.