KARACHI: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has conducted an enter and search operation at the premises of a Karachi-based transporters’ association as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged anti-competitive practices in the transportation of edible oil. The action was taken after CCP initiated a suo moto inquiry regarding multiple circulars issued by the association at various intervals, which reportedly fixed transportation charges for edible oil from Karachi’s seaports to other cities across Pakistan. Price fixing by an association is per se violation of the Competition Act, 2010, as it eliminates independent pricing decisions among competitors, distorts market dynamics, and harms consumers. During the operation, CCP’s authorized officers impounded relevant documents and computer-stored data to assess the extent of the association’s role in setting transport rates. News Desk
