The Competition Commission of Pakistan has released competition assessment studies covering major sectors of the economy, including insurance, power, gold, pesticides, steel, LNG, road infrastructure, sugar, and fertilizer.
Officials said the studies were aimed at supporting evidence-based policymaking and identifying structural and regulatory gaps that limit competition and consumer welfare.
To further strengthen research and policy input, the CCP has recently set up a Centre of Excellence in Competition Law. The centre is tasked with conducting in-depth studies across key sectors and supporting legal and regulatory reforms.
According to the CCP, studies on the automobile industry, civil aviation market, solar energy market, cement sector and the impact of mergers in the telecom sector are currently underway and nearing completion.
One of the key reports released by the commission focused on the insurance sector. The study highlighted low insurance penetration, limited market outreach, and a fragmented legal and regulatory framework.
It noted that insurance penetration in Pakistan stands at just 0.87 percent, compared to a global average of 6.7 percent, and called for reforms to promote competition and consumer protection.
The CCP also published its first competition assessment study of the gold market. The report found that more than 90 percent of gold trading in Pakistan takes place outside formal channels, resulting in weak regulation and pricing opacity.
The study also pointed to the potential impact of the Reko Diq copper-gold project on domestic supply chains and recommended the establishment of a Gemstone and Gold Regulatory Authority.
In addition, the commission released studies on the pesticide, steel, and LNG sectors. The pesticide sector report highlighted Pakistan’s heavy reliance on imported agricultural chemicals, the widespread presence of counterfeit and substandard products, regulatory bottlenecks, and weak enforcement, all of which negatively affect farmers and crop productivity.
The CCP said its research efforts are intended to help policymakers introduce targeted reforms, improve market efficiency and strengthen competition across the economy.
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