Chairman Competition Commission of Pakistan Mr. Farid Ahmad Tarar addressed the 17th Consumers Food Safety & Quality Conference & Awards 2026 organised by the Consumers Association of Pakistan (CAP) in Karachi as the Chief Guest. In his keynote address, the Chairman said food safety is not only a public health issue but also a matter of consumer trust, market integrity and economic development. He noted that consumers make purchasing decisions based on the information businesses provide. When that information is truthful, markets function efficiently. When it is misleading, consumers suffer, honest businesses are disadvantaged and competition is distorted. Mr. Tarar highlighted the Competition Commission's role in preventing deceptive marketing practices under Section 10 of the Competition Act, 2010, which prohibits false or misleading claims about the nature, quality, composition, characteristics or standard of goods and services. While food safety regulators ensure products meet safety standards, the CCP ensures businesses market those products truthfully and honestly. Referring to the Commission's landmark enforcement actions involving the misleading marketing of frozen desserts as ice cream and deceptive representations in the dairy sector, he reaffirmed that consumers have the right to know exactly what they are buying and that businesses must compete through innovation, quality and transparency—not exaggeration or deception. The Chairman noted that industry, too, has a critical responsibility. Compliance should not be viewed merely as a legal obligation but as a strategic investment in consumer trust and brand reputation. He said the Commission remains fully committed to ensuring that competition serves consumers by protecting their ability to make informed choices. The Chairman called for stronger collaboration among regulators, industry, academia and consumer organizations to build fair, transparent and competitive markets. At the conclusion of the conference, awards and certificates were also distributed from the Consumers Association of Pakistan to individuals and organisations for their effective contributions to consumer protection.
Chairman Competition Commission of Pakistan Mr. Farid Ahmad Tarar addressed the 17th Consumers Food Safety & Quality Conference & Awards 2026 organised by the Consumers Association of Pakistan (CAP) in Karachi as the Chief Guest.
In his keynote address, the Chairman said food safety is not only a public health issue but also a matter of consumer trust, market integrity and economic development. He noted that consumers make purchasing decisions based on the information businesses provide. When that information is truthful, markets function efficiently. When it is misleading, consumers suffer, honest businesses are disadvantaged and competition is distorted.
Mr. Tarar highlighted the Competition Commission's role in preventing deceptive marketing practices under Section 10 of the Competition Act, 2010, which prohibits false or misleading claims about the nature, quality, composition, characteristics or standard of goods and services. While food safety regulators ensure products meet safety standards, the CCP ensures businesses market those products truthfully and honestly.
Referring to the Commission's landmark enforcement actions involving the misleading marketing of frozen desserts as ice cream and deceptive representations in the dairy sector, he reaffirmed that consumers have the right to know exactly what they are buying and that businesses must compete through innovation, quality and transparency—not exaggeration or deception.
The Chairman noted that industry, too, has a critical responsibility. Compliance should not be viewed merely as a legal obligation but as a strategic investment in consumer trust and brand reputation. He said the Commission remains fully committed to ensuring that competition serves consumers by protecting their ability to make informed choices.
The Chairman called for stronger collaboration among regulators, industry, academia and consumer organizations to build fair, transparent and competitive markets.
At the conclusion of the conference, awards and certificates were also distributed from the Consumers Association of Pakistan to individuals and organisations for their effective contributions to consumer protection.
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