Law minister commits to supporting CCP in addressing backlog and tackling cartels

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazir Tarar visited the head office of the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) on Friday. The visit was marked by a warm reception from CCP Chairperson Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu and members Salman Amin, Abdul Rashid Sheikh, Saeed Ahmad Nawaz and Bushra Naz Malik.

During the visit, Tarar received a comprehensive briefing on the operational challenges and legal hurdles faced by the CCP. He assured his commitment to facilitating the swift appointment of the chairperson of the Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT) and its members.

The Competition Commission of Pakistan highlighted its progress in resolving 69 cases in the past year, recovering penalties amounting to Rs100 million. However, the transfer of the CAT chairperson to the Supreme Court (SC) has rendered the Tribunal non-functional, exacerbating delays in addressing crucial competition-related cases.

The law minister was apprised of the CCP’s pending caseload, which includes: 211 cases in the Supreme Court, 43 in the Lahore High Court, 44 in the Sindh High Court, 172 cases before the CAT, and several in the Islamabad and Peshawar high courts.

The CCP proposed establishing a specialised bench in the SC to expedite competition-related cases.In its fight against cartelisation, the CCP briefed the minister on the establishment of a market intelligence unit (MIU).

Using advanced data analysis and media monitoring tools, the MIU has identified over 150 cases. The Competition Commission of Pakistan is setting up a centre of excellence in competition law to encourage research and address regulatory barriers in sectors such as insurance, aviation, road construction and power.

Minister Tarar’s visit underscores the government’s renewed commitment to supporting the CCP in promoting fair competition, removing market entry barriers, and fostering a healthier business environment for the benefit of businesses and consumers alike.