MULTAN City News

Businessmen asked to increase competition law knowledge

From Our Correspondent

MULTAN: Speakers at a seminar highlighted various competition issues particularly in the area of deceptive marketing practices and urged the government to resolve these issues.

The seminar was organised by the Competition Commission of Pakistan at the Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Friday. The seminar also marked the conclusion of the National Road Show on competition law. As part of the National Road Show inaugurated in Islamabad on Dec 4, 2015, the CCP teams headed by chairperson Vadiyya Khalil and members Shahzad Ansar and Ikramul Haque Qureshi visited 22 cities of four provinces and successfully held seminars at the chambers and leading trade associations to create awareness and familiarisation of the competition law. Former MCCI president Khawaja Muhammad Yousaf in his welcome address said that the economy needs a competitive business environment that ensures investors’ confidence in innovation and growth. He termed the role of the CCP crucial for protecting consumers’ rights and a competitive economy while urging the businessmen to increase their knowledge of the competition law. The CCP officials said that with the support of the business community, important objectives of the Road Show had been achieved, such as appointment of focal persons by the chambers who would work as a central point of communication and liaison between the CCP and the business community. CCP member Ikramul Haq Qureshi presented a detailed overview of Competition Regime in Pakistan and the substantive provisions of the Competition Act, 2010. He briefed the MCCI members that compliance with the competition law protects businesses from anti-competitive activities and leads to innovation, lawful profits and business development. He encouraged businessmen to approach the CCP for taking advice regarding mergers or any other matter related with the competition law. CCP official Shahzad Ansar explained the role of the Office of Fair Trading in dealing with deceptive marketing practices. He shared the contact details of the CCP to facilitate businessmen to file complaints with the CCP regarding deceptive marketing practices. Shahzad Ansar said that the CCP had achieved the objectives of the Road Show on competition law and the credit of the success equally goes to the business community. CCP Directors Asfandyar Khattak, Syed Umair Javed, senior members of the Executive Committee of the MCCI and others also attended the event.