Research flag low insurance coverage penetration, casual gold commerce and market dominance as key challenges
At present costs, the looted gold is value round $70 million. PHOTO: PIXABAY
ISLAMABAD:
The Competitors Fee of Pakistan (CCP) expanded its market analysis exercise in 2025, releasing competitors evaluation research protecting key sectors, together with insurance coverage, energy, gold, pesticides, metal, LNG, street infrastructure, sugar and fertiliser.
Based on an announcement issued on Monday,the Fee additionally established a Centre of Excellence in Competitors Legislation (CECL) to help evidence-based policymaking and authorized and regulatory reforms. The centre is conducting research on the auto business, civil aviation market, photo voltaic power market, cement sector and the affect of mergers within the telecom sector.
An in depth CCP report on the state of competitors in Pakistan’s insurance coverage business recognized low insurance coverage penetration, restricted outreach and a fragmented authorized and regulatory framework as main challenges. The report famous that insurance coverage penetration in Pakistan stands at 0.87%, in comparison with a world common of 6.7%, and highlighted the necessity for reforms to enhance competitors and shopper welfare.
The Fee additionally launched its first Competitors Evaluation Research of the gold market. The report supplied an evidence-based evaluation of a sector characterised by informality and pricing opacity. It discovered that greater than 90% of gold buying and selling takes place exterior formal channels. The examine examined the potential affect of the Reko Diq copper-gold challenge on home provide chains and beneficial the creation of a Gemstone and Gold Regulatory Authority.
As well as, CCP issued competitors research on the pesticide, metal and LNG sectors. The pesticide sector report highlighted Pakistan’s reliance on imported agricultural chemical compounds, the prevalence of counterfeit and substandard merchandise, regulatory bottlenecks and weak enforcement affecting farmers and crop yields.
The LNG examine recognized dominant positions held by state-owned enterprises, restricted non-public sector participation, restricted entry to infrastructure and the affect of round debt exceeding Rs2.8 trillion on market competitors. The metal sector evaluation outlined competitors challenges and coverage gaps affecting effectivity and market outcomes. The Fee additionally issued a Competitors Evaluation Research of the fertiliser business, figuring out limitations to competitors throughout manufacturing, distribution and retail segments in a sector important to agricultural productiveness.
To strengthen inter-agency coordination, the CCP signed a number of memoranda of understanding throughout 2025. These included an MoU with the Federal Antimonopoly Service of the Russian Federation protecting cooperation on cartel enforcement, merger management and competitors coverage analysis.
On the nationwide degree, the CCP entered into MoUs with the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and the Punjab Meals Authority to handle misleading advertising and marketing practices and enhance monitoring of product claims.
