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The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has intensified its enforcement actions, conducting major raids in Lahore as part of an ongoing inquiry into suspected cartelization and coordinated price fixing within the out of home (OOH) media advertising sector. The move comes amid rising concerns over market manipulation and artificially inflated advertising costs.
OOH advertising covers billboards, digital screens, pole streamers, transit branding and other public space displays. Due to the involvement of multiple agencies and vendors, any collective decision-making on prices or commissions can distort competition and directly raise costs for advertisers.
CCP teams raided three OOH-linked entities, including two industry associations and one advertising agency, after receiving a complaint alleging cartel formation. According to the complaint, the association was accused of fixing agency commissions, coordinating bid decisions, and blacklisting agencies and vendors who refused to comply with its terms.
CCP officials collected records and documents indicating possible violations of Section 4 of the Competition Act, 2010, which prohibits collective price setting and anticompetitive coordination. Once the investigation concludes, the findings will be presented before the Commission, and if wrongdoing is confirmed, show cause notices will be issued.
CCP Chairman Dr. Kabir Sidhu emphasized that while associations play a constructive role in industry development, they must ensure that “no anticompetitive discussions or decisions take place” during meetings.
