ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has underscored the growing competition challenges posed by the rapid expansion of digital platforms, big data analytics, and algorithm-driven business models. The commission highlighted the importance of strong enforcement to maintain fair competition and foster innovation in digital markets.
These issues were addressed during a lecture titled “Competition Concerns in the Digital Economy,” part of CCP’s ongoing Lecture Series on Competition Law. The session was delivered by Dr. Amber Darr, Lecturer in Competition Law at the University of Manchester, UK, and an External Expert at CCP’s Centre of Excellence in Competition Law (CECL).
Dr. Darr examined how digital platforms, network effects, and data-driven strategies are reshaping market dynamics. She explained key characteristics of digital markets, including increasing returns to scale, market tipping, data-driven market power, and the potential risks of algorithmic collusion. The lecture also explored the challenges competition authorities face in defining relevant markets and assessing dominance in zero-price or innovation-led environments.
Referring to landmark European Union cases involving major technology companies such as Google, Apple, and Amazon, Dr. Darr highlighted issues surrounding abuse of dominance, tying and bundling practices, unfair trading conditions, and evolving approaches to vertical agreements in digital markets.
Placing Pakistan’s digital economy in a regional and global context, she emphasized the crucial role of effective competition enforcement in promoting fair and innovative markets. The lecture served as a platform for CCP officers—from management executives to director generals—to engage in discussions on regulatory and enforcement challenges in Pakistan’s rapidly evolving digital ecosystem.
The interactive session reinforced CCP’s commitment to capacity building and strengthening competition law enforcement, ensuring that the Pakistani market remains competitive and innovation-friendly amidst the growth of digital platforms and data-driven business models.
By addressing these emerging digital challenges, the CCP aims to equip regulators with the knowledge and tools required to maintain fair competition and protect consumer welfare in Pakistan’s increasingly technology-driven economy.
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