CCP breaks ground for new headquarters, boosting regulatory oversight

March 04, 2025 (MLN): The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) marked a significant milestone with the groundbreaking ceremony of its new head office building in the Mauve Area, G-10, Islamabad.

The foundation stone was laid by Deputy Prime Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, alongside Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

Speaking at the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment.

“Our economic reforms are designed to promote competition, reduce barriers, and ensure a level playing field for all businesses,” he stated.

He emphasized the pivotal role of the CCP in fostering investment and fair competition in Pakistan, expressing confidence in the leadership of Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb in guiding the Commission’s future success.

Dar also lauded Chairman CCP Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu for his effective leadership, according to the press release issued today.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb highlighted the achievement of macroeconomic stability in the country, with ongoing structural reforms.

He stressed that while establishing CCP’s own headquarters is essential, the Commission must maintain its dedication to enforcing fair competition policies.

Federal Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Federal Secretary for Law and Justice Raja Naeem, Chairman CCP Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu, Chairman Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Akif Saeed, and other senior officials were also present at the event.

Federal Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik acknowledged CCP’s significant role in regulating markets and ensuring economic fairness.

Federal Minister for Law, Azam Nazeer Tarar, congratulated the entire CCP team and praised Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu’s professional accomplishments.

He expressed confidence in his leadership to strengthen the Commission’s regulatory functions.

Chairman CCP Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu shared key updates on the Commission’s progress, noting that its legal department has been restructured to better pursue cases in courts.

Additionally, the establishment of a Market Intelligence Unit aims to identify cartelization and anti-competitive practices.

He highlighted an ongoing public awareness campaign on cartel detection, which has received positive feedback.

Dr. Sidhu also announced the creation of a Center of Excellence for market research and industrial sector analysis.

He further noted that the new headquarters will significantly enhance the Commission’s operational capacity, reducing rental expenses and facilitating the hiring of specialized experts.

CCP also plans to expand its presence across Pakistan by establishing offices in other cities.

Since its inception, CCP has actively investigated cartels, prevented abuse of dominance, and tackled deceptive marketing and unfair trade practices.

In 2024, the Commission imposed Rs275 million in penalties for cartelization, collusion, and deceptive marketing, recovered Rs100m, resolved 73 court cases, and issued 32 show-cause notices across multiple sectors, including fertilizer, real estate, education, public procurement, and pharmaceuticals.

Additionally, seven new inquiries were launched into transportation, telecom, construction, and FMCG.

The Market Intelligence Unit identified nearly 200 instances of anti-competitive practices through advanced data analysis.

The establishment of the new CCP headquarters is expected to further strengthen the Commission’s enforcement mechanisms, ensuring a robust and competitive economic framework for Pakistan.

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