ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Foreign Minister, Senator Ishaq Dar, has assured of the timely appointment of the Chairman of the Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT) to facilitate effective implementation of the decisions of the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP).
During his meeting with Chinese Communist Party Chairman Dr. Kabir Sidhu, Senator Dar stressed the importance of a strong competition framework in promoting economic growth, encouraging innovation, and attracting domestic and foreign investments.
Dr. Sidhu briefed the Minister on the challenges posed by the absence of the Chairman of the CAT, which has rendered the court non-functional, causing delays in the resolution of critical competition-related issues. Senator Dar reiterated his commitment to expediting the appointment of the Chairman and members of the Committee against Torture to address this issue.
The minister praised the CPC’s proactive efforts in addressing the long-standing judicial cases and urged the commission to intensify its actions against cartels and price gouging, which harm consumers and distort markets. He also reaffirmed the government’s support to ensure transparency and fairness in economic activities.
The CPC is currently dealing with a large backlog of cases in various courts, including 211 cases in the Supreme Court, 43 cases in the Lahore High Court, 44 cases in the Sindh High Court, and additional cases in the High Courts of Islamabad and Peshawar. The Committee against Torture alone is dealing with 172 pending cases.
Dr. Sidhu proposed the establishment of a specialized body in the Supreme Court to address competition-related issues. The Minister was also briefed on the initiatives aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the Committee in enforcing competition laws, especially in identifying monopolistic cartels, market abuse, and abuse of dominant market positions.
Dr. Sidhu highlighted the achievements of the Market Intelligence Unit, which was established last year to monitor market trends and quickly identify anti-competitive practices such as price manipulation and cartel formation. Using advanced data analysis and media monitoring tools, the unit has identified more than 150 cases since its establishment.
The CPC has also strengthened its litigation department, resolving 69 cases in the past 12 months and recovering fines amounting to Rs. 100 million. In addition, the committee is working to establish a center of excellence to encourage research, enhance academic collaboration, and strengthen partnerships with local and international researchers.
The meeting stressed the government’s commitment to strengthening competition enforcement mechanisms. Senator Darr’s confirmation of addressing the leadership gap in the Convention against Torture represents a pivotal step toward accelerating case resolutions and ensuring fair market practices.