APCMA appeals CAT to quash penalty imposed by CCP 

April 25, 2025 (MLN): All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) has appealed to the Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT) to annul the Rs 6.35 billion penalty imposed by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) on APCMA and cement companies in a case concerning alleged price fixing and collusion.

The Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT) heard the cement cartel case today (Thursday), where attorney Rashid Anwar, representing the APCMA, articulated his arguments and denied the accusations of price fixing and collusion.

APCMA's legal representative submitted that there is a competitive landscape within the cement sector, characterized by differing prices.

He described the CCP's decision against cement companies as unjust, pointing out that the Commission had imposed a significant fine on these firms in 2009, even while they were incurring losses.

Rashid Anwar argued that the Competition Commission did not conduct a proper geographical analysis of cement companies.

He said that the quota sharing agreement between the cement companies was signed in 2003 for 2 years, which had expired by the time the Commission’s decision came.

He further argued that the CCP did not have reasonable grounds to raid the offices of the APCMA and its member companies. He requested the tribunal to invalidate the decision of the CCP.

Later, the tribunal postponed the hearing of the case until May 22 following the conclusion of APCMA attorney’s arguments.

At the next tribunal session, attorneys representing different cement firms including former Attorney General Khalid Javed Khan, Yousuf Khosa, and Shahbaz Khosa, will put forth their arguments to the tribunal. Once they conclude, CCP’s legal representatives will defend the Commission’s ruling.   

It should be noted that the CCP had found evidence of alleged agreements and collusion concerning cement price determination (price fixing) involving the APCMA in 2009.

Following a comprehensive investigation, the Commission levied a total fine of Rs 6.35 billion against 20 cement manufacturing firms and the APCMA for alleged price fixing and cartelization.

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