Sign MoU for collaboration in cartel investigations, merger control and action against deceptive marketing
Competition Commission of Pakistan and Russia’s Federal Anti-Monopoly Service sign a Memorandum of Understanding to deepen regulatory coordination during the 10th Pakistan–Russia Intergovernmental Commission meeting
Pakistan and Russia have formalised a major cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening market competition oversight. The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) and Russia’s Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to deepen regulatory coordination.
The MoU, signed during the 10th Pakistan–Russia Intergovernmental Commission meeting, provides a comprehensive framework for collaboration on cartel investigations, abuse of dominance cases, merger control, and action against deceptive marketing. CCP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu and FAS Deputy Head Andrey Tsyganov signed the agreement.
The partnership also encourages both authorities to organise joint workshops, expert exchanges, technical consultations, and shared research, aimed at improving enforcement capacity and regulatory standards.
Officials noted that Russia’s anti-trust authority—established 35 years ago with nearly 1,000 employees and a broad operational mandate—brings significantly more experience compared to the CCP, which currently has around 250 staff members. FAS regional offices also play a key role in curbing cartelisation and misleading marketing practices.
CCP officials said Pakistan stands to gain substantially from Russia’s extensive regulatory experience, and joint sessions between the two agencies are expected to begin soon.
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The collaboration is expected to bolster market competition, strengthen enforcement mechanisms, and enhance policy development in both countries. The CCP is tasked with curbing price manipulation, monitoring market conduct, and protecting consumers from the harmful effects of cartelisation. Recently, the government has urged the CCP to accelerate its investigation into alleged cartelisation in the vegetable ghee and cooking oil industry.
The issue was discussed in a recent meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) while reviewing prices of food items across the country. It was decided that the Finance Division would facilitate the CCP in expediting its probe into cartel-like behaviour in the vegetable ghee and cooking oil sector and submit its report to the NPMC as soon as possible.
The meeting also reviewed the cooking oil price trend in compliance with directives of the Economic Coordination Committee issued on July 29, 2025. The CCP informed members that the inquiry was ongoing and would be completed in due course, with findings submitted thereafter.
Following detailed discussions, several decisions were taken. The Ministry of National Food Security, in consultation with the Ministry of Industries and provincial governments, will prepare a plan to identify measures for providing essential food items at stable prices before and during Ramazan.
The State Bank of Pakistan will present a comprehensive report in the next meeting on loan disbursements to farmers for planting rabi crops in flood-affected areas, including district-wise details and a breakdown of farm and non-farm credit data.
The Ministry of Industries & Production, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, will submit a plan to facilitate private-sector investment in cold storage for essential food items, aimed at stabilising prices through enhanced storage capacity.
