The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) significantly strengthened its enforcement activities in fiscal year 2024–25, targeting anti-competitive behaviors including cartels and deceptive marketing practices across multiple sectors. The intensified crackdown highlights CCP’s strong commitment to fostering fair competition and safeguarding consumer rights throughout Pakistan.
In its latest enforcement summary, the CCP announced initiating a total of 24 new inquiries, divided into 11 investigations on cartelization and 13 focusing on deceptive marketing tactics. During the same period, the Commission completed 14 cases, moving them forward for adjudication. These concluded matters involved crucial sectors such as e-commerce, telecommunications, aviation, steel manufacturing, transportation, edible oils, pharmaceuticals, construction, commodities trading, and education.
Further reinforcing its regulatory approach, the CCP issued 22 show-cause notices addressing a variety of violations, including collusive bidding, coordinated price-setting schemes, misleading advertising, and trademark infringements. These official notices represent a fundamental step toward enforcing compliance and ensuring market fairness across different economic segments.
Detailing the interventions by sector, the Cartel and Trade Abuse Department concluded nine significant investigations within the year. The most notable cases involved bid rigging within public-sector steel procurement tenders, collusive pricing agreements in the flat steel market, and the setting of artificially inflated freight rates by associations within the transport sector. These targeted interventions aimed to rectify damaging practices affecting market prices, product availability, and supply-chain reliability.
Meanwhile, the Commission’s Office of Fair Trade separately pursued 21 inquiries—comprising 13 newly initiated and 8 continuing from previous periods—covering diverse industries such as fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), pharmaceuticals, real estate, cosmetics, education, and financial services. The Office successfully completed five investigations, subsequently issuing show-cause notices linked to deceptive marketing claims and the unauthorized use of trademarks.
This surge in enforcement activity underscores the CCP’s increasing influence and determination to promote transparency and fair competition in Pakistan’s evolving economic landscape. With digital commerce expanding and supply chains becoming increasingly complex, the Commission remains strategically positioned to maintain vigilant oversight across both emerging and established market sectors.
