CCP to protect consumers from anti-competitive behaviour of companies

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has conveyed to the corporate and legal representatives of the private sector that the commission would take immediate measures to protect consumers from anti-competitive behaviour of companies in Pakistan.
During an advocacy seminar, organised by the commission here on Monday, the CCP officials explained its new policy and enforcement measures under the relevant law. It was pointed out that the CCP needs to continue to emphasise advocacy within a wide variety of constituencies and interest groups in the country.
Unless the public at large understands, and is convinced of the importance of the working of the CCPs, the companies engaged in anti-competition activities will be able to paint a negative picture of the Competition Ordinance as an unaffordable luxury for Pakistan. Moreover, eventual success in advocacy is linked to the creation of a stronger pro-competition climate of opinion in the country and for the implementation of second generation reforms that are expected to propel Pakistan into the ranks of a middle income developing country in the next 5-10 years.
The seminar focused on the new Competition Regime in Pakistan, being implemented by the CCP. The purpose of this event was to create awareness regarding the aims and objectives of the competition law, its nature and essential contents and to remove any misunderstandings regarding this law and the manner in which the law is being implemented.
The event started with a welcome speech by Member (A&R) Ms Maleeha Mimi Bangash. She welcomed all participants to the special session organised by CCP on Competition Ordinance, 2007. She further explained that the CCP is a quasi judicial, quasi regulatory law enforcing agency which is established as an autonomous statutory body under the Competition Ordinance, 2007. The CCP's mission is to provide free competition in all spheres of commercial and economic activity, enhance economic efficiency and protect consumers from anti-competitive behaviour.
She also elucidated that CCP looks at the very narrow area of competition with a very wide scope namely the entire economy, and not just that but the law also covers extra-territoriality since some matters may occur in international jurisdictions but may affect or have an impact on the conditions of competition within the Pakistani economy.
Ms Bangash went on to say that in the past year and a half the Commission has been active in its work. CCP has increasingly become conscious of the role that the legal community has to play in propagating this law and creating awareness amongst those to whom this applies.
It is therefore, most important to engage and involve our legal community. She emphasised that each one of the participants, whether a corporate lawyer, an in-house legal counsel or the senior management of a company, are all partners in ensuring compliance with both the word and spirit of the Competition Ordinance 2007 and assisting the CCP with its aim of creating and establishing a competition culture within our economy.
Welcome address was followed by a presentation by Member (Legal) Ms Rahat Kaunain Hassan. The CCP Member Legal presentation gave an over view of the Competition Law and highlighted that Pakistan's competition law is Competition Ordinance, 2007. It is a modern piece of legislation embodying principles enshrined in the Treaty of Rome and global best practices.
Ms Hassan covered all aspects of the law and explained each and every section of the law in detail, including abuse of dominance, deceptive marketing practices, prohibited agreements, merger clearance etc. She also provided details regarding the various powers of the Commission relating to leniency, imposing penalties and the important role of advocacy. She cited various examples and cases which have been dealt with by the Commission.
The seminar was attended by corporate and legal representatives of the private sector. The event ended with an interactive question and answer session. Several questions were raised by the participants, most of which related to the Commission's enforcement powers, precedents of Competition laws in other jurisdictions and the Commission's role vis-à-vis other sectoral regulators. The questions were addressed by Ms Maleeha Mimi Bangash, Member (A&R) and Ms Rahat K. Hasan, Member (Legal).