Fertiliser makers, association fined Rs375m
The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has imposed a fine of Rs375 million on six leading urea manufacturers and their trade association — Fertiliser Manufacturers of Pakistan Advisory Council (FMPAC) — for collusive price fixing. The fines have been imposed in violation of Section 4 of the Competition Act 2010. Following a suo motu inquiry initiated in 2021, the CCP found that the companies, in coordination with FMPAC, had issued a joint advertisement setting a uniform maximum retail price of Rs1,768 per 50 kg bag—despite variations in input costs, gas prices, and market conditions. The CCP declared this a clear act of cartelisation, and not a lawful awareness campaign. The decision was made after a four-year process that involved an initial inquiry and several hearings with the fertiliser companies.