CCP Lauds Federal Cabinet For Resolving Funding Issues
Faizan Hashmi Published December 01, 2020 | 06:00 PM
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Dec, 2020 ) :The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) applauded the Federal Cabinet for resolving the issues of CCP's independent funding.
A press release issued by CCP on Tuesday said that Federal Cabinet, in its meeting on November 24, 2020, demonstrated its unequivocal support to the CCP by approving the issuance of a statutory regulatory order (SRO), prescribing 3% of fee and charges levied by SECP, OGRA, PTA, NEPRA and PEMRA from the financial year 2009-10 and onwards to meet charges in connection with the functioning of the CCP.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Finance has issued the SRO on November 27 for gazette notification.
Necessary action has also been requested including standing instructions to their bankers for transfer of the prescribed percentage of their total fee and charges collected during each quarter, for credit to the account of the Commission, by the tenth of the month following the relevant quarter and before surrendering the surplus to the Federal Consolidated Fund, under intimation to the Commission.
The Commission duly acknowledges the support and efforts of the Ministry of Finance and also Ministry of Law in the entire process and views it as a stepping stone towards making the Competition Commission of Pakistan a truly independent and robust organization, it added..
It also speaks about the commitment of the Federal Government by resolving the decade-old issue of payment of the said funding, thus providing due support in making CCP a sustainable and more effective organization.
On 23 December 2008, the Federal Government named the five regulatory bodies and fixed the said 3% of fee and charges levied by them as the amount to form part of the CCP Fund.
Despite numerous correspondence with all those involved, full support of the Ministry of Finance, favorable opinions of the Law and Justice Division, objections of the Auditor General of Pakistan on the chosen regulators for non-payment, and the support of the Senate's Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue and strong recommendations from Public Accounts Committee on numerous occasions, the Commission was not able to tap into this source of envisaged funding.
Since its inception, the Commission had been operating under severe resource constraints with a fixed annual grant. All penalties the Commission imposes are deposited in the Federal Consolidated Fund, thus the Commission is also shielded from any conflict of interest, perceived or real, as the quantum of penalties Commission imposes are not to be used for its operational budget.
The Commission is hopeful that the five regulatory bodies would now be supportive and play their due role in strengthening of the competition regime in Pakistan.
This three percent source of funding is appropriate and necessary, given the circumstances of the Commission.
A multi-source budget with multi-year funding arrangements, updated annually, will contribute to the independence of the Commission allowing it to plan its work without uncertainty about the future.
The Chairperson of Competition Commission of Pakistan sid that the Government's commitment to strengthening of institutions hinges upon affording institutions administrative and financial autonomy.
Resolution of long pending matter will certainly enable the Commission to pursue its legislative mandate more effectively and will also pave way for organizational reforms, she added.
Pakistan needs an economic landscape to allow consumers to benefit from competition that aims at�inter alia�reduced prices, improved quality, efficiency and innovation, she remarked.
She said that once these funds are received and continue to be contributed, a financially autonomous Commission can help further the economic agenda of the Government more effectively.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
ICC Womens T20 World Cup Qualifier, Match 2: Ireland Women open with Comfortable ..
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
Nasreen Noori’s book ‘Popatan Jahra Khwab’ launched
Wafaqi Mohtasib inspection team visits Excise and taxation office
AJLAC announces 5th Conference titled ‘People’s Mandate: Safeguarding Civil ..
Pak-US officials engage to enhance trade, investment ties
IBCC to promote educational excellence, expand regional presence
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leav ..
More Stories From Business
-
Chinese minister felicitates Ahsan Iqbal on reappointment as Planning minister
6 hours ago -
Pak-US officials engage to enhance trade, investment ties
7 hours ago -
Stocks fall as tech shares sink, US economy slows
8 hours ago -
Higher taxes, awareness help decrease cigarettes sale in Pakistan
9 hours ago -
Ahsan Iqbal chairs CPEC JWGs, 13th JCC review-meeting
9 hours ago -
Industries Minister recommends urea fertilizer import to stabilize prices and supply
9 hours ago
-
Honda announces US$11 bn EV battery and vehicle plant in Canada
9 hours ago -
Zhao Shirin calls on Punjab Industries Minister
10 hours ago -
CEO APM Terminals calls on Finance Minister
10 hours ago -
SACM visits GTVC checks attendance register
10 hours ago -
CEO APM Terminals meets Commerce Minister
10 hours ago -
RTO destroys huge quantity of non-duty paid cigarettes
10 hours ago