ISLAMABAD, July 26: The government has referred “oil, sugar, fertilisers and CNG cartels matter” to the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) for an investigation.

The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Syed Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister for Finance, Privatisation and Investment here on Saturday.

Mr Qamar asked CCP Chairman Khalid Mirza to devise an effective plan to check cartels of all other commodities to benefit the end consumer/common man and to get improved services for the masses in an environment of healthy competition.

He said that the government was fully committed to strengthening the functioning of the commission in the larger public interest and its services would be fully utilised with an ability to carry out surprise checks to detect various cartels and termed the CCP an implementing arm of the government.

Earlier, Mr Mirza gave a presentation regarding the composition and functioning of the CCP and informed that it would focus on prohibiting abuse of dominant position, agreements or deceptive market practices of all such anti-competitive practices that prevent, restrict or distort competition in the relevant market, including predatory pricing, tie-ins, boycotting, making cartels or any attempt to threaten the competitive process.

He said that the CCP’s role was confined to enhancing economic efficiency by acting against anti-competitive practices in all sectors and it should not be viewed as usurping the important functions of sector specific regulators.

“Our target is to promote free competition in all spheres of commercial and economic activity and to enhance economic efficiency and to protect consumers from anti-competitive behaviour,” the CCP chairman said.