The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) will issue its recommendations to promote competition in public procurement of power equipment following a public hearing to be held on February 17, 2015.
The CCP after taking notice of numerous concerns raised by various stakeholders including manufacturers and suppliers of electric power equipment regarding certain restrictive, exclusive, and discriminatory terms and conditions in tenders floated by public sector organisations, such as NTDC & DISCOs, for the supply of electric power equipment, has decided to conduct an open hearing under Section 29 of the Competition Act, 2010, into the matter on 17 February 2015.
The commission is mandated by the Act to inter alia undertake enforcement, advocacy, and research efforts to provide for free competition in all spheres of commercial and economic activity to enhance economic efficiency, and to protect consumers from anti-competitive behaviour.
In furtherance of this mandate, Section 29 of the Act empowers the Commission to hold hearings in connection with matters that affect the state of competition in Pakistan or affect the country’s commercial activities and to publicly express its opinion in the matter.
The importance of maintaining a level-playing field with regard to public procurement cannot be underestimated as it accounts for at least 25 per cent of Pakistan’s GDP. It is also crucial to protect against anti-competitive behaviour in public procurement as a healthy competition in the sector is essential to ensure that public money is used in an efficient and effective manner.
The open hearing will be held on February 17, 2015, at 11 am at the commission’s office located at 9th Floor, ISE Towers, Blue Area, Jinnah Avenue, Islamabad. The matter will be heard by the entire Commission comprising Vadiyya Khalil, Chairperson Dr Joseph Wilson, Member Competition Policy and Research Mueen Batlay, Member Mergers and Acquisitions Dr Shahzad Ansar, Member OFT and Advocacy, and Mr Ikram ul Haque Qureshi, Member Legal and Cartels & Trade Abuses.
