Road show: CCP asked to strike balance between business, consumer

No stakeholder should take undue advantage over others, says LCCI SVP

LAHORE: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) should ensure that no stakeholder takes or is given undue advantage over others as the antitrust watchdog has an important and effective role to play especially when cartels are being formed, says a leading industry official.

Speaking at a seminar organised at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Senior Vice President of the chamber Almas Hyder underlined the need for enhancing economic efficiency of the country and striking a balance between the profitability of businesses and the welfare and protection of consumer rights.

The seminar was part of the national road show on competition law, which was organised by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP). He appreciated the initiative taken by the CCP to hold the road show all over Pakistan, saying it would improve awareness among all stakeholders.

Addressing the participants, CCP member Shahzad Ansar said the CCP had held seminars in around 20 cities of the country and in the last round discussions were being held in Punjab.

“We have received encouraging response from the business community and we hope that our road show will achieve its desired objectives,” he said. “CCP will remain in touch with chambers of commerce which will assist CCP in resolving the competition issues being faced by the business community.”

The participants of the seminar were briefed on the importance of competition law enforcement for creating a level playing field for businesses, salient features of the law and benefits drawn by consumers after getting protected from anti-competitive practices.

CCP member Ikramul Haque Qureshi, in his presentation on the overview of competition regime in Pakistan, said the competition law prohibited anti-competitive practices such as abuse of dominant position, cartelisation, deceptive marketing and also empowers the CCP to review mergers.

“The main aim of the competition law is to create a level playing field - one rule for all,” he said.

He said the competition law created a level playing field for all businesses by removing entry barriers and discouraging discriminatory policies.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th,  2016.

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