ISLAMABAD, 18 MAY, 2016: The Competition Commission of Pakistan successfully undertook a Merger Process Awareness Program as a part of its advocacy efforts in order to spread awareness of Pakistan's merger review regime under the Competition Act, 2010.

Under the awareness program, CCP conducted seminars in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, respectively, and briefed the stakeholders about the Merger Review process at CCP in detail.

CCP under its present Chairperson Ms. Vadiyya Khalil is encouraging the stakeholders to come forward and bring to the Commission's attention any concerns or suggestions that they have regarding to Pakistan's merger review process. The program included presentations on the history of Pakistan's competition regime, the merger review process (as provided for under Section 11 of the Competition Act, 2010, and the Competition (Merger Review) Regulations, 2007) as well as the pre-merger application. The presentations were followed by Q&A sessions in which the stakeholders’ queries were answered and their valuable feedback was recorded.

Mr. Shahid Raza from M/S. Orr-Dignam, Mr. Hassan Irfan Khan from M/S. Irfan & Irfan, and Mr. Mehmood Mandviwalla from M/S. Mandviwalla & Zafar, shared their experiences with participants and appreciated the CCP’s efforts to reach out to the stakeholder’s and expressed their desire to see the Commission continue such awareness programs in the future.