ISLAMABAD, Oct16 : As part of its ongoing Lecture Series on Competition Law, the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) hosted an insightful session featuring Dr. Ali Salman, Chief Executive Officer of PRIME Institute, who delivered a lecture on “Level Playing Field for Businesses in Various Sectors of the Economy in Pakistan.”
The session, held at the CCP Headquarters, was presided over by Chairman Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu, and attended by Members, Director Generals, and senior officers of the Commission.
Dr. Salman discussed the concept of a “level playing field” from an economic and regulatory perspective, emphasizing that equal opportunity and equal rules are not synonymous. He argued that while opportunities are inherently unequal, it is the responsibility of regulators to ensure equal rules and non-discriminatory policies across all markets.
Highlighting Pakistan’s economic structure, Dr. Salman identified five major factors that create an unlevel playing field: discriminatory laws, procurement restrictions, tax exemptions, tariff barriers, and the presence of state-owned enterprises in commercial markets. He stressed that state interventions and selective privileges often distort competition and hinder private sector growth.
Referring to the Competition Act, 2010, Dr. Salman appreciated the CCP’s role in promoting fair competition but suggested that future reforms could focus more on addressing market distortions caused by unequal state policies rather than private enterprise conduct.
Chairman Dr. Sidhu thanked Dr. Salman for his thought-provoking lecture, noting that such academic and policy-oriented engagements enrich CCP’s ongoing efforts to promote competitive markets and informed economic policymaking.
The Lecture Series is part of CCP’s advocacy and capacity-building initiatives aimed at enhancing understanding of competition law and economic governance among professionals and policymakers.
