The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has intensified its crackdown on misleading and deceptive advertising, imposing heavy fines across multiple sectors including real estate, automobiles, education, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods.
According to official details, the CCP has initiated inquiries in Islamabad into fake and misleading housing advertisements, while enforcement action against deceptive promotional campaigns by housing societies is also underway in Lahore.
In a major action, the commission imposed a Rs1.5 billion fine on Kingdom Valley for misleading advertising practices. The CCP also attached the company’s bank accounts and recovered Rs270 million as part of the enforcement process.
The commission has launched an inquiry into the dangerous use of mercury in skin-whitening creams, citing serious public health concerns linked to deceptive cosmetic marketing.
In the automobile sector, Hyundai Nishat Motors was fined Rs250 million for misleading advertisements related to the launch prices of the Hyundai Tucson. In the education sector, British Lyceum was fined Rs50 million for publishing deceptive promotional claims.
The CCP also imposed a Rs400 million penalty on Al-Ghazi Tractors for misleading farmers through deceptive marketing practices.
In the pharmaceutical sector, the commission upheld a Rs1.5 billion fine in the Strepsils case over misleading advertising claims. Action was also taken against 3N LifeMed for falsely claiming international certifications.
Additionally, the CCP maintained its penalty decision in the Diamond Paints case, reinforcing its stance against deceptive marketing practices.
The Competition Commission stated that misleading advertisements distort consumer choice, harm fair competition, and pose risks to public health and safety. It reaffirmed its commitment to strict enforcement of competition laws to protect consumers and ensure transparency across all sectors.
