ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has launched a competition assessment of digital markets and services to make policy recommendations to help the government ensure global regulatory harmonisation.

The study aims to understand the impact of digital markets and services on competition, economic growth, and employment opportunities.

At the end of this research study, the CCP aims to propose a draft bill on digital markets. Other countries such as Russia, the UK, the USA and India have already done so to regulate their markets.

Pakistan’s shift towards digital markets necessitates proactive policies to promote competition. This requires establishing and enforcing clear rules to prevent anti-competitive behaviour by major digital platforms and service providers.

Digitalisation has created new markets and transformed existing ones, changing the nature of competition. The study will analyse the opportunities and challenges presented by the digital economy for competition and suggest pro-competition policies that account for these markets’ unique dynamics.

The emergence of a few powerful platforms, the centrality of data (both personal and organisational), and the use of algorithms have given rise to significant competition concerns.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2024