Regulatory frameworks across major sectors in Pakistan ‘outdated’, says CCP chairman

Regulatory frameworks across major economic sectors in Pakistan had been outdated and required urgent modernisation to meet the demands of rapidly evolving markets, the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) chairman Dr Kabir Sidhu said while addressing an event on Wednesday.

He was speaking at a lecture of a series on competition law organised by the CCP. The session on ‘Role of Aviation Industry in Economic Affairs and National Development’ was attended by senior officials, researchers of the CCP, and industry stakeholders.

“Regulatory frameworks across major sectors in Pakistan remain outdated and require urgent modernisation to meet the demands of rapidly evolving markets…..CCP’s Centre of Excellence is conducting in-depth sectoral studies to identify regulatory gaps, market inefficiencies, and provide evidence-based recommendations for reforms,” Sidhu was quoted as saying in a CCP statement.

“The centre has completed studies in over fifteen key sectors, including LNG, power, sugar, insurance, fertiliser, road infrastructure, and gold.”

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Speaking on the occasion, Air Marshal Javaid Ahmed, HI (M) (Retd), president, Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS) said Pakistan “possesses strong aeronautical capabilities and will soon be able to manufacture a passenger aircraft, given its advanced fighter aircraft ecosystem”.

He, however, cautioned that Pakistan’s aviation sector needed urgent modernisation to unlock its potential in tourism, cargo movement, technology development, skilled employment, and national security, as highlighted under the Significance of Aviation Industry framework in his presentation.

Ahmed outlined Pakistan’s aviation challenges, including high operational costs, weak governance structures, security constraints, sectoral inefficiencies, limited private sector participation, and shortage of skilled workforce.

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Dr Usman W Chohan, Advisor CASS, noted that aviation contributed $5.6 billion to Pakistan’s GDP (1.7%), supporting 684,000 jobs, and generating 22 million passengers in 2023, a figure expected to rise under the National Aviation Policy 2023.

“Pakistan’s flight market revenue is projected to grow from $6.04 billion in 2025 to $8.17 billion by 2030, with users rising to 48.5 million,” he said.