The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) recently hosted an
interactive session with the Chainstore Association of Pakistan (CAP) to reinforce self-regulation
and promote compliance with Competition Law, with a special focus on curbing deceptive
marketing practices. Ms. Bushra Naz Malik (Member, CCP) led the session alongside senior officials, including Mr.
Shahzad Hussain (Director General) and Mr. Qasim Khan (Sr. Joint Director). CAP wasrepresented
by Mr. Tariq Mehboob (Co-Founder and Patron-in-Chief), Mr. Asfandyar Farrukh (Co-Founder and
Chairman), and Mr. Ahsen Mahmood (Senior Vice Chairman). During session, Ms. Malik reiterated the CCP’s commitment to fostering fair competition across
sectors, highlighting that sector-specific guidelines are soon to be issued to strengthen
compliance within the retail industry. She also underscored CCP’sfocus on raising awareness and
building capacity among stakeholders, including retail sector participants, on Competition Law
and compliance. Mr. Mehboob highlighted CAP’s substantial economic contribution, representing over 150 retail
businesses generating more than PKR 2000 billion in revenue per annum. He highlighted
challenges faced by CAP members, emphasizing the need for heightened awareness of anticompetitive practices, such as deceptive claims and misleading discounts, to prevent financial
penalties and reputational harm. Mr. Farrukh reinforced the importance of training and awarenessinitiativesled by the CCP, which
would help CAP members align their business strategies and practices with Competition Law. The CCP and CAP agreed to continue their partnership to foster a competitive and compliant
retail landscape, benefiting both the economy and consumers alike.
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