Pakistan, Russia sign MoU to boost cooperation on competition policy

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) and the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) of the Russian Federation signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance bilateral cooperation in the field of competition policy, according to a CCP statement on Thursday.

The MoU was signed by CCP chairman Kabir Ahmed Sidhu and FAS Deputy Head Mr Andrey Tsyganov during the 10th session of the Russia–Pakistan Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Investment, Scientific and Technical Cooperation.

“The signing marks a significant step toward deepening institutional coordination, promoting fair market practices, and strengthening economic ties between the two countries,” the CCP said.

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The commission said the MoU provided a structured framework for collaboration, including “the exchange of expertise, best practices, and regulatory experience in areas such as cartel investigations, abuse of dominance, merger control, deceptive marketing, and sectoral competition assessments”.

“Under the agreement, both authorities will engage through regular meetings, consultations, workshops, expert exchanges, and joint research initiatives.”

According to the CCP statement, FAS, established 35 years ago, operates with a significantly wider mandate compared to the CCP.

“It has nearly 1,000 employees at its headquarters, whereas the CCP has around 250 staff members in Islamabad. FAS also maintains independent regional offices that play a highly effective role in curbing cartelization and deceptive marketing practices. The CCP stands to learn a great deal from Russia’s extensive regulatory experience, and both sides will hold joint sessions in the near future to deepen cooperation and knowledge sharing.”

The cooperation is expected to pave the way for stronger regulatory coordination, enhanced enforcement capacity, and more competitive and consumer-friendly markets in both Pakistan and Russia.