An effective enforcement of the Competition Law encourages enterprise and efficiency, creates a wider choice for consumers and helps reduce prices and improve quality, said Dr. Joseph Wilson, Chairman, Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP). The Chairman was addressing an advocacy session organized by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), which was attended by Sohail Lashari, President LCCI, Dr. Shehzad Ansar, CCP Member Advocacy, and Executive Committee and General Body members of LCCI in large number. Dr. Wilson briefed the participants of the meeting on key provisions of the Competition Act, 2010 and said the Competition rules and regulations are in line with the modern Competition Laws. He said that the Law provided for protection from economic ills such as cartelization, abuse of dominance, and deceptive marketing that were equally bad for consumer as well as business and industry. In comparison with the old Monopoly Control Authority (MCA), CCP was given more powers by the Competition Act. By citing various cases, he informed the participants that CCP had taken notice of anti-competitive activities in almost all economic sectors and is vigilant in curbing activities that are harmful to the interests of businesses and consumers. While responding to a question about the status of Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT), the Chairman said that it was dysfunctional due to non-appointment of new Chairman and a Member after the expiry of the first term of previous members. He said that CCP was waiting for the government to fill the vacant post of Members in both CAT and CCP in order to ensure their smooth functioning. In the meeting, the representatives of the All Pakistan PVC Pipe Manufacturers Association raised concern faced by them in the upstream market, market of PVC Resin. The Chairman said that CCP will look into the matter. The Chairman said that the doors of CCP were open to all and urged the business community to come forward and strengthen the hands of CCP for economic well-being of all the citizens of Pakistan. Dr. Shehzad Ansar, CCP Member while briefing the participants of the meeting on the role and performance of the Office of Fair Trade (OFT), said that the purpose of OFT was to enforce Section 10 of the Competition Act that deals with deceptive marketing practices. "So far, OFT has achieved more than ninety percent (90%) compliance by companies with the relevant rules and provisions of Competition Law," he informed. While addressing the session, Sohail Lashari, President LCCI thanked CCP for its forthcoming policy towards the business community and assured LCCI's full support in implementation of the Competition Law.
An effective enforcement of the Competition Law encourages enterprise and efficiency, creates a wider choice for consumers and helps reduce prices and improve quality, said Dr. Joseph Wilson, Chairman, Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP). The Chairman was addressing an advocacy session organized by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), which was attended by Sohail Lashari, President LCCI, Dr. Shehzad Ansar, CCP Member Advocacy, and Executive Committee and General Body members of LCCI in large number.
Dr. Wilson briefed the participants of the meeting on key provisions of the Competition Act, 2010 and said the Competition rules and regulations are in line with the modern Competition Laws. He said that the Law provided for protection from economic ills such as cartelization, abuse of dominance, and deceptive marketing that were equally bad for consumer as well as business and industry. In comparison with the old Monopoly Control Authority (MCA), CCP was given more powers by the Competition Act. By citing various cases, he informed the participants that CCP had taken notice of anti-competitive activities in almost all economic sectors and is vigilant in curbing activities that are harmful to the interests of businesses and consumers.
While responding to a question about the status of Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT), the Chairman said that it was dysfunctional due to non-appointment of new Chairman and a Member after the expiry of the first term of previous members. He said that CCP was waiting for the government to fill the vacant post of Members in both CAT and CCP in order to ensure their smooth functioning. In the meeting, the representatives of the All Pakistan PVC Pipe Manufacturers Association raised concern faced by them in the upstream market, market of PVC Resin. The Chairman said that CCP will look into the matter.
The Chairman said that the doors of CCP were open to all and urged the business community to come forward and strengthen the hands of CCP for economic well-being of all the citizens of Pakistan. Dr. Shehzad Ansar, CCP Member while briefing the participants of the meeting on the role and performance of the Office of Fair Trade (OFT), said that the purpose of OFT was to enforce Section 10 of the Competition Act that deals with deceptive marketing practices. "So far, OFT has achieved more than ninety percent (90%) compliance by companies with the relevant rules and provisions of Competition Law," he informed.
While addressing the session, Sohail Lashari, President LCCI thanked CCP for its forthcoming policy towards the business community and assured LCCI's full support in implementation of the Competition Law.
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