LAHORE, 25 JANUARY 2016: As part of the National Road Show on Competition Law, the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) today held a seminar at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI).

The seminar was attended by Almas Hyder, Senior Vice President LCCI, CCP Members Shahzad Ansar, Ikram Ul Haque Qureshi, CCP Directors Asfandyar Khattak, Syed Umair Javed, LCCI members of the executive committee and the business community in large number.

In his welcome speech, Almas Hyder stressed the need to enhance economic efficiency of the country and also strike balance between profitability of businesses and at the same time welfare and protection of consumers’ rights. “By way of following pro-active approach, Competition Commission of Pakistan should ensure that no stakeholder takes or be given undue advantage over others. CCP has got important and effective role to play especially when cartels are being formed,” he added.

He appreciated the initiative taken by CCP to hold a national road show all over the Pakistan on Competition Law saying that it will improve awareness among all the stakeholders. “I assure that Lahore Chamber will extend you every possible cooperation with regard to promoting familiarization of the Competition Law and improving the current state of affairs,” he added.

Addressing the participants, CCP Member Shahzad Ansar informed that CCP had successfully held seminars in around 20 cities of the country and in the last round, seminars are being organized in Punjab. “We have received encouraging response from the business community and we hope that our Road Show will achieve its desired objectives,” he said. He said that CCP will remain in touch with the Chambers of Commerce through the focal persons who will help assist CCP in resolving the competition issue being faced by the business community.

The participants of the seminar were briefed on the importance of Competition Law enforcement for creating a level playing field for businesses, the salient features of the law, and the benefits drawn by the consumers after getting protected from anti-competitive practices.

Ikram Ul Haque Qureshi, Member CCP, in his presentation on the Overview of Competition Regime in Pakistan said that the Competition Law prohibits anti-competitive practices such as abuse of dominant position, cartelization, deceptive marketing and also empowers CCP to review mergers. “The main aim of the Competition Law is to create a level playing field, one rule for all,” he said.

He explained the substantive provisions of the Competition Act, 2010 and briefed the participants on the do’s and don’ts under the Competition Law. He said the Competition Law creates a level playing field for all businesses by removing entry barriers and discouraging discriminatory policies. He urged the business community to approach the CCP to assist CCP in identifying competition issues.

Shahzad Ansar in his presentation on explained the role of the Office of Fair Trading in dealing with deceptive marketing practices. He shared the contact details of CCP to facilitate businessmen to file complaints with CCP regarding deceptive marketing practices.

In the interactive session, the participants highlighted various competition issues and urged CCP to play its role for their resolution.