CCP imposes Rs2.36b penalties in 2025

ISLAMABAD:

During 2025, the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) imposed penalties of Rs2.363 billion, recovered Rs932.56 million and issued 47 show-cause notices to undertakings involved in cartelisation, price-fixing, prohibited agreements and deceptive marketing practices.

According to an official statement issued on Thursday, the Commission reduced its court case backlog by 70%. Through early hearing applications, appointment of lawyers and follow-up, it secured decisions in 434 cases out of a backlog of 567 cases as of August 2023, averaging almost one case every two days. The CCP passed 11 orders under the Competition Act, 2010, including five related to cartelisation and prohibited agreements and four for deceptive marketing. One FMCG order set aside a show-cause notice for lack of evidence. It also granted second-phase merger approval for PTCL's acquisition of Telenor Pakistan and Orion Towers after assessments across five markets.

Penalties included Rs1.562 billion on Aisha Steel Mills and International Steels for price-fixing, Rs375 million on the Fertiliser Manufacturers of Pakistan Advisory Council and members, and Rs155 million on the Pakistan Poultry Association and DOC companies. Other penalties targeted automakers, schools, pharmaceutical distributors and transporters.