Islamabad: In a decisive legal outcome, the Competition Appellate Tribunal rejected the appeals from Defence Housing Authority Lahore and Wateen Telecom, affirming the penalties imposed by the Competition Commission of Pakistan for their restrictive agreements.
According to Competition Commission of Pakistan, the tribunal’s decision maintains the financial sanctions on DHA Lahore and Wateen Telecom, which were found guilty of creating an exclusive arrangement that limited telecommunication and media service choices for residents. DHA Lahore received a PKR 10 million fine, while Wateen Telecom was fined PKR 5 million.
The case originated from multiple complaints by residents about restricted choices and poor service quality, leading to an investigation that uncovered the exclusive deal granting Wateen sole service rights in specific phases of DHA. This arrangement was judged to violate the Competition Act of 2010, leading to significant penalties and the nullification of certain contractual rights.
Both entities sought to overturn the CCP’s ruling but were unsuccessful in their efforts after thorough deliberations by the tribunal. The legal confirmation of these penalties underscores the ongoing enforcement of competition laws in Pakistan.