Enforcement of competition law critical for consumers: CCP

Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) Chairperson Rahat Kaunain Hassan has said that the effective implementation of competition policy is critical for consumers. "A competitive market benefits consumers by enabling them to obtain best value, and the economic performance generally by improving efficiency," she said while addressing a seminar organised by the Consumers Association of Pakistan (CAP) in connection with the World Consumer Rights Day.
The CCP Chairperson said that Competition Law and Consumer Protection Law are two feathers of the same wing and share some common roots. For instance, she added both laws deal with distortion in the marketplace which is driven by the interaction between supply and demand.
"Notwithstanding the common mandate of public welfare, competition law operates more at the macro level where the eventual beneficiary is the consumer," she observed. Rahat said that the role of Competition Agency is to ensure that big fish must not swallow the small fish and that competition in the relevant market is neither reduced and distorted nor prevented. The focus is not on competitors or on consumers directly but on competition in the relevant market.
She said that CCP is one of the law enforcement agencies that provide quick justice. The CCP Chairperson said maintained that the Commission's enforcement philosophy was not to deter but discipline businesses. Its role is to work as a referee who strives to ensure fair play and not necessarily as a prosecutor for imposition of punishments, she added. In line with this philosophy, she said that the Commission's compliance oriented approach has started producing positive results and businesses are now approaching CCP for correcting their business behaviour.
Rahat appreciated the role being played by the Consumer Association of Pakistan and other such organisations for the consumer rights. She said that CCP will work together with these organisations to take actions for promotion of competition. Addressing the seminar, CAP President Kaukab Iqbal lauded the role being played by CCP for promoting competition in the economy.
The other eminent speakers of the seminar included Dr Shahid Hassan Siddiqui, eminent economist, Khalid Tawab, Vice President FPCCI, Syed Jauhar Ali Qureshi, President Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (Kati), Kalim Siddiqui, President BYCO Petroleum Pakistan Limited, Engineer Farida Essa, General Secretary CAP.-PR