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Business Recorder
25-04-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
APCMA, cement cos: CAT asked to annul Rs6.35bn CCP penalty
ISLAMABAD: All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) has appealed the Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT) to annul Rs 6.35 billion penalty imposed by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) on APCMA and cement companies on alleged price fixing and collusion. The Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT) heard the cement cartel case on Thursday, where Attorney Rashid Anwar, representing the APCMA, articulated his arguments and denied the accusations of price fixing and collusion. APCMA's legal representative submitted that there is a competitive landscape within the cement sector, characterised by differing prices. He described the CCP's decision against cement companies as unjust, pointing out that the Commission had imposed a significant fine on these firms in 2009, even while they were incurring losses. Cement makers: CCP keeps up efforts to combat cartelisation Rashid Anwar argued that the Competition Commission did not conduct a proper geographical analysis of cement companies. He said that the quota sharing agreement between the cement companies was signed in 2003 for two years, which had expired by the time the Commission's decision came. He argued that the CCP did not have reasonable grounds to raid the offices of the APCMA and its member companies. He requested the tribunal to invalidate the decision of the CCP. Later, the tribunal postponed the hearing of the case until May 22 following the conclusion of APCMA attorney's arguments. At the next tribunal session, attorneys representing different cement firms including former Attorney General Khalid Javed Khan, Yousuf Khosa, and Shahbaz Khosa, will put forth their arguments to the tribunal. Once they conclude, CCP's legal representatives will defend the Commission's ruling. It should be noted that the CCP had found evidence of alleged agreements and collusion concerning cement price determination (price fixing) involving the APCMA in 2009. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
24-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Cement body files appeal against Rs6.35b penalty
Although the current fiscal year has started on a promising note, the domestic despatches in July 2023 were approximately 20% lower than those in June 2023, said the APCMA spokesperson. photo: file Listen to article The All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) has filed an appeal with the Competition Appellate Tribunal, seeking the cancellation of Rs6.35 billion penalty imposed by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) on the APCMA and cement companies in a case pertaining to alleged price fixing and collusion. The tribunal heard the case on Thursday, where Rashid Anwar, the counsel representing the APCMA, presented his arguments and dismissed the allegations. He emphasised that there was a competitive landscape within the cement sector, characterised by differing prices. He described the CCP's decision against cement companies as unjust and pointed out that the commission had also imposed a notable fine on cement firms in 2009, when they were incurring losses. Anwar argued that the CCP did not conduct a proper geographical analysis of the companies and the quota-sharing agreement between the companies had been signed in 2003 for two years only, which expired by the time the commission's decision came. He contended that the CCP did not have reasonable grounds to raid the offices of the APCMA and its member companies. He requested the tribunal to invalidate the CCP decision. The tribunal adjourned the hearing until May 22 following the conclusion of APCMA counsel's arguments. At the next hearing, the counsel representing different cement firms will put forth their arguments. Once they conclude, the CCP's legal representatives will defend the commission's ruling. Earlier, the CCP had found evidence of agreements and collusion concerning the cement price determination and involving the APCMA. Following a comprehensive probe, the CCP slapped a fine of Rs6.35 billion on 20 cement manufacturers and the APCMA.
