Govt urges CCP to fast-track probe into alleged ghee and cooking oil cartel

The federal government has directed the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) to speed up its investigation into alleged cartelisation in the vegetable ghee and cooking oil sector, asking the regulator to submit its findings to the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) at the earliest, The Express Tribune reported.

The issue was raised during a recent meeting of the NPMC, chaired by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, which reviewed nationwide food price trends. The committee examined the cooking oil price pattern in line with directives issued by the Economic Coordination Committee on July 29, 2025.

CCP officials informed the meeting that their inquiry into suspected cartel-like behaviour was ongoing and would be completed in due course, after which a detailed report would be submitted.

The meeting also issued several directives to ministries and institutions. The Ministry of National Food Security, in consultation with the Ministry of Industries and provincial governments, was assigned to prepare a plan outlining measures to ensure stable prices of essential food items before and during Ramazan.

Separately, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) was tasked to present a district-wise report in the next meeting on loan disbursements for Rabi crop cultivation in flood-affected areas. The SBP will also provide a detailed breakdown of farm and non-farm credit.

The Ministry of Industries & Production was directed to develop, in consultation with stakeholders, a plan to encourage private-sector investment in cold storage facilities to improve preservation capacity and stabilise food prices.

The Islamabad Capital Territory administration will brief the committee in the next session on the growing wholesale–retail price gap for key food commodities, including reasons behind the divergence and proposed corrective actions.

According to the chief statistician’s presentation, inflation trends, the impact of recent floods on food prices, wholesale-retail price differences, and national and international market movements were reviewed. Stable prices were observed for wheat flour, rice, pulses and beef, while lentils, soybean oil, wheat, sugar, DAP and urea remained sensitive.