CCP to probe fare raise by private airlines

LAHORE: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has decided to initiate an inquiry against all the private airlines that increased their fares manifold after the Pakistan Airlines Pilots’ Association (PALPA)’s ongoing strike. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has already issued instructions in this regard to the authority concerned to take action against the private airlines which are making money in the wake of the strike which has almost crippled PIA’s domestic and international operations.
A CCP official told The News the CCP would investigate whether the private airlines had abused their dominant position or indulged in some other anti-competition activities by taking advantage of a crisis created by the PALPA strike and taxing the consumers.
The Section 3 of the Competition Act prohibits unreasonable and unjustifiable increase in the prices of goods and services and empowers the CCP to investigate the exploitative practices.