CCP Significantly Reduces Legal Backlog

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has achieved substantial progress in decreasing its pending legal cases and recouping penalties, resolving 223 cases and diminishing the backlog by over 40%.

According to a statement released by the CCP on Wednesday, the commission was dealing with 567 unresolved cases across various courts when the new leadership assumed responsibilities in August 2023.

The Competition Appellate Tribunal (CAT) adjudicated 121 out of 210 cases, thereby curtailing its backlog by 58%.

The Supreme Court concluded 11 cases, while 171 cases contesting the CCP’s jurisdiction were grouped together for a unified hearing.

The Lahore High Court resolved 39 cases, marking a 78% reduction in its pending caseload, whereas the Sindh High Court finalized 40 cases, reflecting a 61% decrease.

Similarly, the Islamabad High Court decided 13 cases, resulting in a 43% drop in pendency.

The statement further noted that the resolution of these cases has enabled the CCP to reclaim imposed penalties. In the past year alone, the commission has recovered Rs360 million, exceeding the total of Rs201 million collected since its inception in 2007.

A notable judgment was issued by the Supreme Court in the Dalda Foods versus CCP case, which has reinforced the CCP’s enforcement capabilities.

Additionally, in a case concerning alleged cartel behavior within the poultry sector, the Lahore High Court affirmed the CCP’s authority to conduct investigations into price-fixing practices.