CCP conducts search & inspection of three undertakings collusively participating in tenders floated for the procurement of steel structures by DISCOs

ISLAMABAD, June 8: As part of an ongoing investigation into the prima facie violations of Section 4 of the Competition Act 2010, the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) today carried out search and inspection of the offices of three companies (undertakings) based in Lahore, engaged in the supply of steel structures to DISCOS across Pakistan, on the suspicion of facilitating a possible bid-rigging/cartelisation in the procurement of steel structures by various power distribution companies (DISCOs).
Three different teams of duly authorized officers of the CCP entered and searched the premises of the respective undertakings and seized pertinent information. The search and inspections were carried out under Section 34 of the Act during which the office of the undertakings fully cooperated with the CCP’s search teams by handing over the documents and computer-stored information relating to the suspected role of the respective undertakings in the alleged anti-competitive activities.
During the investigation, the enquiry committee analyzed the five years (2015 – 2020) tender documents provided by the DISCOs which revealed that only a few companies participated in the bidding process of steel structures floated. PR