Islamabad, August 4, 2026: Chairman of the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), Farid Ahmad Tarar, has underscored the importance of greater awareness of competition law and a clear understanding of institutional responsibilities to promote a transparent, competitive and investment-friendly business environment in Pakistan.
Speaking at an awareness programme organised by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Tuesday, Tarar said the interactive session provided an opportunity to explain the Commission’s legal mandate, operational framework and enforcement mechanism while addressing the practical challenges faced by the CCP in ensuring fair competition. He noted that the active participation of the business community reflected growing interest in competition law and regulatory compliance.
The CCP chairman said the Commission’s mandate is often misunderstood. He clarified that while the CCP is responsible for preventing anti-competitive practices, deceptive marketing, cartelisation and abuse of dominant market position, it is not authorised to issue licences to housing societies, recover investors’ money, investigate criminal offences or perform functions assigned to other regulatory and law enforcement agencies.
He emphasised that the Commission’s primary responsibility is to promote fair competition and protect consumers by ensuring truthful and transparent market practices.
Tarar said the CCP’s enforcement measures are aimed at discouraging anti-competitive behaviour and creating a level playing field for businesses. He noted that the Commission’s interventions in sectors such as sugar, cement and consumer advertising had helped curb collusive practices, improve market discipline and strengthen consumer protection.
He added that the CCP is also preparing to address emerging challenges posed by digital markets, e-commerce and evolving business models to ensure Pakistan’s competition regime remains aligned with international best practices.
Welcoming participants, ICCI President Sardar Tahir Mehmood described the Chamber’s partnership with the Competition Commission as a strategic investment in Pakistan’s economic future.
He said a fair and competitive marketplace encourages innovation, attracts investment and enhances consumer confidence, all of which are essential for sustainable economic growth.
Sardar Tahir Mehmood reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to promoting awareness of competition law, strengthening institutional cooperation and facilitating continuous dialogue between regulators and the private sector so that compliance is viewed not merely as a legal requirement but as a driver of competitiveness, transparency and business growth.
He also assured the CCP of ICCI’s continued support in organising awareness and capacity-building initiatives for the business community.
During the programme, Dr. Ikram-ul-Haq, Salman Zafar, Marryum Pervaiz and Maliha Quddus delivered presentations on the objectives, legal framework, enforcement mechanism and functions of the Competition Commission of Pakistan. The session was moderated by ICCI Senior Vice President Tahir Ayub, who highlighted the Commission’s contributions towards promoting a competitive business environment.
The event concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session in which participants discussed various issues related to competition law, consumer protection and regulatory compliance. The programme was attended by ICCI Vice President Muhammad Irfan Chaudhry, former President Basir Dawood, executive members, former office-bearers and a large number of business leaders and Chamber members.
