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Competition Commission of
Pakistan (CCP) has found prima facie indications of collusive behaviour of
sugar mills in the preliminary investigations, CCP Chairman Khalid Mirza
said here on Friday.
Speaking at a press briefing, Mirza said that we are in the middle of an
investigation and the raids were conducted on the three sugar mills and
the
preliminary investigations found out that it smacks of irregularities in the
sugar price.
However, the situation would be cleared once the final report is completed
under the directives of Supreme Court of Pakistan. He hoped that it would be
finalised in the next two weeks and possibly be submitted during the next
hearings.
CCP Chief, appeared cautious to talk openly and categorically on the sugar
crisis and said that he would do his utmost to complete the task as assigned
by the apex court and admitted that if it could not be done, it would
definitely be "negligence" on his part.
When asked about the political pressures in conducting the investigations in
the sugar scam, Mirza rejected the notion and stated: "There are always
political pressures while carrying out my job. However in this particular
case, there is no such thing".
About the sugar price fixation, Chairman CCP said that he would only suggest
the Supreme Court what should the appropriate price be. Otherwise, price
determination is not the job of CCP.
He further said that apart from investigations against sugar mills, CCP also
issued a policy note in which Ministry of Industries was admonished for the
sugar crisis.
About the compliance situation of cement industries regarding imposing the
fine some time back, Khalid said that cement industries has 60 days to file
an appeal against the decision of CCP and once the deadline expires, the
next step would be taken.
He informed newsmen that the commission is carrying out studies on 15 to 20
cases to check whether fair competition is going on or some anti-competitive
behaviours are being practiced in these areas.
Calling the country's competition commission law, the best in the world,
Mirza pointed out that law is aimed at harnessing economic productivity and
protecting consumer's rights.
He felt that for the implementation of competition law, financial autonomy,
political will, an appreciation from the judiciary is must for the
encouragement of the people and success against the cartels.
Mirza also spoke at length on the competition commission law, calling it the
modern peace of legislation that has delivered in the last two years since
its implementation. |