Competition policy is all about creating the best possible conditions for consumers, investors and innovative entrepreneurs while the main objective of the Competition Law is to enhance economic efficiency and create a level playing field. This was stated by Vadiyya Khalil, the Chairperson, Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), while addressing a seminar at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KPCCI) on Monday. The seminar was held in connection with the “National Road Show on Competition Law” being organized by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) in 22 cities throughout the country. The seminar was attended by Zulfiqar Ali Khan, President, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Ammad Khalid Rasheed, Senior Vice President, Shuja Muhammad, Vice President, Members of CCP Mueen Batlay, Shahzad Ansar, Ikram Ul Haque Qureshi, DG Cartels & Trade Abuses CCP, Shaista Bano, Director Advocacy CCP Asfandyar Khattak, the office bearers and members of ICCI and the business community in large number. In his welcome address, Zulfiqar Ali Khan said that the Competition Law enforcement was crucial for purging the economy from cartelisation, abuse of dominance and deceptive marketing practices as well as protecting consumers from anti-competitive behaviour. He welcomed CCP initiative of holding a country-wide road show saying that it will create the much needed awareness and understanding of the law. In her address, Vadiyya Khalil said that the enforcement of Competition Law is a must for economic growth. “It [Competition Act, 2010] is Pro Competition, Pro consumer protection, Pro growth and therefore it is Pro business. The law protects you, the businesses, from any anti-competitive or deceptive behaviour of another entity/competitor,” she said. She said that enforcement and advocacy are two sides of the same coin. “Today we are here to advocate our law so that businesses know what is right from wrong and can self-regulate and comply with the law,” she added. The Chairperson thanked the business community for extending support to CCP by participating in the National Road Show on Competition Law and urged the need to work hard towards more efficient and prosperous Pakistan. Ikram Ul Haque Qureshi, Member CCP in his detailed presentation gave an overview of the competition regime in Pakistan and explained the substantive provisions of the Competition Act, 2010. He said that the anti-competitive practices such as the abuse of dominance and cartelization not only harmed the consumers, but also inflicted huge financial losses to the national exchequer. Shahzad Ansar, Member CCP in his presentation on the Office of Fair Trade (OFT), said that the Competition Act protects the consumer from deceptive marketing practices adding that the Competition Act forbids false and deceptive claims having no reasonable basis and the fraudulent use of the trademarks of other undertakings. During the questions and answers session, the participants raised important issues concerning competition and their questions were answered by the Commission’s Members.
Competition policy is all about creating the best possible conditions for consumers, investors and innovative entrepreneurs while the main objective of the Competition Law is to enhance economic efficiency and create a level playing field. This was stated by Vadiyya Khalil, the Chairperson, Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), while addressing a seminar at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KPCCI) on Monday. The seminar was held in connection with the “National Road Show on Competition Law” being organized by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) in 22 cities throughout the country. The seminar was attended by Zulfiqar Ali Khan, President, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Ammad Khalid Rasheed, Senior Vice President, Shuja Muhammad, Vice President, Members of CCP Mueen Batlay, Shahzad Ansar, Ikram Ul Haque Qureshi, DG Cartels & Trade Abuses CCP, Shaista Bano, Director Advocacy CCP Asfandyar Khattak, the office bearers and members of ICCI and the business community in large number.
In his welcome address, Zulfiqar Ali Khan said that the Competition Law enforcement was crucial for purging the economy from cartelisation, abuse of dominance and deceptive marketing practices as well as protecting consumers from anti-competitive behaviour. He welcomed CCP initiative of holding a country-wide road show saying that it will create the much needed awareness and understanding of the law.
In her address, Vadiyya Khalil said that the enforcement of Competition Law is a must for economic growth. “It [Competition Act, 2010] is Pro Competition, Pro consumer protection, Pro growth and therefore it is Pro business. The law protects you, the businesses, from any anti-competitive or deceptive behaviour of another entity/competitor,” she said. She said that enforcement and advocacy are two sides of the same coin. “Today we are here to advocate our law so that businesses know what is right from wrong and can self-regulate and comply with the law,” she added.
The Chairperson thanked the business community for extending support to CCP by participating in the National Road Show on Competition Law and urged the need to work hard towards more efficient and prosperous Pakistan.
Ikram Ul Haque Qureshi, Member CCP in his detailed presentation gave an overview of the competition regime in Pakistan and explained the substantive provisions of the Competition Act, 2010. He said that the anti-competitive practices such as the abuse of dominance and cartelization not only harmed the consumers, but also inflicted huge financial losses to the national exchequer.
Shahzad Ansar, Member CCP in his presentation on the Office of Fair Trade (OFT), said that the Competition Act protects the consumer from deceptive marketing practices adding that the Competition Act forbids false and deceptive claims having no reasonable basis and the fraudulent use of the trademarks of other undertakings.
During the questions and answers session, the participants raised important issues concerning competition and their questions were answered by the Commission’s Members.
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