CCP, CAP hold awareness session on competition law and deceptive marketing

LAHORE: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) and the Chainstore Association of Pakistan (CAP) jointly held an interactive awareness session aimed at promoting self-regulation and compliance with competition law, with a special focus on curbing deceptive marketing practices among member stores.

The session was led by member of the CCP Bushra Naz Malik, alongside senior officials Shahzad Hussain and Qasim Khan. CAP was represented by former chairman Tariq Mehboob, current Chairman Asfandyar Farrukh, and Senior Vice Chairman Ahsen Mahmood.

During the session, Malik reiterated the CCP’s commitment to fostering fair competition across all sectors, noting that sector-specific guidelines will soon be introduced to enhance compliance within the retail industry. She also discussed the CCP’s focus on raising awareness and building capacity among stakeholders, especially within the retail sector, regarding competition law and compliance requirements.

Mehboob highlighted CAP’s significant economic contribution, representing over 150 retail businesses that collectively generate more than Rs2,000 billion in annual revenue. He also discussed challenges faced by CAP members, underscoring the need for increased awareness of anti-competitive practices, such as deceptive claims and misleading discounts, to help businesses avoid financial penalties and reputational damage.

Farrukh further added the importance of training and awareness initiatives led by the CCP, which he said would support CAP members in aligning their business strategies and practices with competition law.Both the CCP and CAP agreed to continue their partnership to foster a competitive and compliant retail landscape that benefits both the economy and consumers.