CCP claims legal backlog down 40pc, recovers Rs360m

By Our Correspondent  
July 31, 2025
The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) building can be seen in this image. — APP/File
The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) building can be seen in this image. — APP/File

KARACHI: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has accelerated its enforcement efforts, reducing its legal backlog by over 40 per cent and recovering a record Rs360 million in penalties over the past year, a statement said on Wednesday.

The CCP, which faced 567 pending cases across various courts as of August 2023, has resolved 223 cases through aggressive legal follow-ups and early hearing applications. The most progress was made at the Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT), where 121 of 210 cases were decided, reducing pendency by 58 per cent. The Lahore High Court cleared 39 cases, cutting its backlog by 78 per cent, while 40 cases were resolved in the Sindh High Court, a 61 per cent drop. The Islamabad High Court reduced its backlog by 43 per cent, deciding 13 cases. The Supreme Court decided 11 cases and consolidated 171 challenges to the CCP’s mandate into a single hearing.

The stepped-up enforcement allowed the CCP to collect more in penalties over the past year than it had in its previous 16 years combined -- surpassing the overall Rs201 million recovered since its inception in 2007.

A ruling from the Supreme Court strengthened the CCP’s powers under Section 36 of the Competition Act, 2010, affirming its authority to initiate inquiries and compel information without the need for prior justification. Another key ruling from the Lahore High Court upheld the CCP’s jurisdiction to investigate suspected cartelisation in the poultry sector, reinforcing the regulator’s autonomy and due process, the statement read.

The revival of the CAT was central to the enforcement push. Following new appointments to the bench, the tribunal disposed of 121 cases and issued precedent-setting judgments clarifying the scope of penalties and the CCP’s procedural authority.

Recent decisions by the tribunal included both upholding and reducing fines across sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals to education, while remanding a high-profile cartel case back to the CCP on procedural grounds.