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Business Recorder
21 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
CCP upholds order against GCC Medical Centres
ISLAMABAD: The Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT) has upheld the Competition Commission of Pakistan's (CCP) order against 20 medical centers and laboratories and their five associations for collusive price fixing, territorial allocation of customers, and other anti-competitive practices in mandatory pre-departure medical examinations for Pakistani workers bound for Gulf countries. The Tribunal upheld CCP's findings of competition law violations but reduced the penalties from PKR 20 million per medical center and PKR 10 million per Gulf Approved Medical Centres Administrative Offices (GAMCAs) to PKR 2 million per center and PKR 1 million per GAMCA. The case concerns a captive market of low-income Pakistani labourers — many securing manual jobs in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait — who must undergo medical tests at GCC-approved centers before departure. The CCP's inquiry found that GAMCAs in five regions — Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi, and Multan — allocated customers on a rotational basis. This eliminated competition on price and service quality. Workers were bound to a specific center, charged a uniform fee, and in some cases subjected to unnecessary repeat tests for additional payments. The CCP initiated its inquiry on a complaint by the Pakistan Overseas Employment Promoters Association (POEPA). The CCP's investigation concluded that fee fixation, territorial division, and equal allocation of customers by GAMCAs violated Sections 4 of the Competition Act, 2010. Dr. Kabir Sidhu, Chairman CCP, warned business associations against facilitating collusive practices, price fixing, or allocation of business quotas. He stressed that such platforms should be used to promote sectoral growth, enhancing competition, and to benefit consumers. Any anti-competitive conduct will be dealt with strictly under the competition law. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
08-08-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Home appliances: CCP receives Rs90m penalties from two brands
ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has received a total amount of PKR 90 million from two electronic home appliance brands, paid against the penalties imposed for engaging in anti-competitive conduct. The penalties were imposed after the CCP concluded that both companies had violated competition law by restricting their dealers from selling products below specified prices, offering discounts, or providing package deals — practices that limited price competition in the market. Although the companies challenged the CCP's order before the Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT), the Tribunal upheld the Commission's findings and directed the companies to deposit the penalty amount within 30 days. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
07-08-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Home appliance companies pay Rs90mn fine for engaging in anti-competitive conduct: CCP
The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has received a total amount of Rs90 million from two electronic home appliance brands, paid against the penalties imposed for engaging in anti-competitive conduct. The penalties were imposed after the CCP concluded that both companies had violated competition law by restricting their dealers from selling products below specified prices, offering discounts, or providing package deals — practices that limited price competition in the market, the CCP said in a press release. Household appliances sector: Tribunal upholds CCP's order against price fixing Although the companies challenged the CCP's order before the Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT), the tribunal upheld the commission's findings and directed the companies to deposit the penalty amount within 30 days. 'The CCP reiterates its warning to all undertakings to refrain from price-fixing practices, including setting minimum or maximum resale prices and placing restrictions on discounts or promotional offers. Such conduct constitutes a serious infringement of the Competition Act, 2010, and undermines free market competition,' the CCP said.
Express Tribune
03-08-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
CCP to hear sugar pricing case today
The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) is set to begin hearings today (Monday) in a case related to alleged collusion in sugar pricing. The commission issued notices to the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) and its member mills after the case was sent back for rehearing by the Competition Appellate Tribunal. The CCP has scheduled hearings in the sugar cartelization case for August 4, 5, 6, and 7, directing all concerned parties to nominate their representatives and ensure their availability on the designated dates, along with all relevant evidence and documentation. Earlier in May, the Competition Appellate Tribunal had returned the case to the CCP for rehearing after announcing its verdict on the appeals filed by the sugar mills and the association against a Rs44b fine. The tribunal instructed that the case be reheard under the supervision of the CCP chairperson or any other member who was not previously involved in the hearings. The tribunal also ordered the commission to complete the rehearing and issue a verdict within 90 days. In 2021, the CCP had imposed a Rs44 billion fine on the PSMA and its member mills for forming a cartel to fix sugar prices and engaging in other anti-competitive practices.
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Household appliances sector: Tribunal upholds CCP's order against price fixing
ISLAMABAD: The Competition Appellate Tribunal has upheld the order of the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) against leading electronic home appliances brands for engaging in Resale Price Maintenance (RPM), a prohibited form of price fixing under the Competition Act, 2010. While maintaining the findings of contravention, the Tribunal reduced the monetary penalty imposed by the CCP to the tune of 90 million, directing the companies to deposit the amount within 30 days. The CCP had earlier imposed penalties on the companies after concluding that both the companies in the home appliances sector had engaged in anti-competitive conduct by restricting their dealers from selling products below specific prices, offering discounts, or providing package deals. In their defense before the Tribunal, the companies did not challenge the finding of contravention but argued that the penalty imposed was high. The Tribunal noted that the appellants demonstrated remedial actions by reimbursing to the dealers the amounts which were imposed by the companies under their price fixing policy. They also assured strict future compliance with the Competition Act. Taking the mitigating factors into account – particularly cooperative stance and restitution to affected parties – the Tribunal reduced the penalties imposed on both companies. The Tribunal also noted the companies' commitment to lawful business practices going forward. The CCP urges all undertakings to refrain from all forms of price fixing, including the setting of minimum or maximum resale prices and imposing restrictions on discounts or promotional offers, as such practices constitute serious violations of competition law. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
