RIYADH / ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) represented the country at a prestigious international gathering in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, highlighting Pakistan’s progressive strides in updating its regulatory frameworks to foster fair market competition.
The CCP delegation, led by Chairman Mr. Farid Ahmad Tarar, participated in the two-day “Knowledge Exchange Event on Competition Policy for Competitiveness and Economic Transformation.” The high-level international event was held from June 29–30, 2026.
Accompanying the Chairman were senior officers of the Commission:
- Dr. Ikram ul Haq, Director General, Market Intelligence Unit
- Mr. Noman Laiq, Director General, Office of International Affairs
A Vision Built on Evidence-Based Policymaking
The symposium was organized by the World Bank Group’s Global Knowledge Hub (K-Hub) in partnership with the Saudi Competitiveness and Business Center (SCBC) and the General Authority for Competition (GAC), Saudi Arabia.
Forming a core component of K-Hub’s broader agenda to support evidence-based policymaking under Saudi Vision 2030, the forum brought together regional competition authorities, regulators, and international experts to swap practical experiences and align policies with modern economic demands.
Sharing Pakistan’s Regulatory Vision
During the panels, Chairman Farid Ahmad Tarar shared Pakistan’s direct experience in managing market practices, outlining ongoing domestic reforms designed to build a modern, robust, and transparent competition regime.
The key discussion areas focused on crucial economic drivers:
- Strengthening Market Competitiveness: Deploying innovative tools to prevent market distortions, abuse of dominance, and anti-competitive practices.
- Promoting Investment & Diversification: Leveraging fair competition to create a level playing field that attracts foreign direct investment (FDI) and supports sector diversification.
- Tackling Digital Market Challenges: Formulating adaptive oversight strategies to regulate the unique growth of e-commerce, online platforms, and data-driven economies.
“The fast-paced rise of digital markets, artificial intelligence, and data-centric economies requires proactive, highly adaptive regulatory policies that protect consumer interests without stifling technological innovation.”
— Mr. Farid Ahmad Tarar, Chairman, CCP
The bilateral and multilateral discussions paved the way for stronger institutional ties between Pakistan’s regulatory authorities and global peers, laying down a collaborative path to tackle emerging cross-border digital economy challenges.
