ISLAMABAD – The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has issued show cause notices to 10 steel structure suppliers involved in procurement tenders floated by various Distribution Companies (DISCOs) for the alleged collusive bidding.
The companies include AM Associates (Pvt) Ltd, Ajmer Engineering Electric Works (Pvt) Ltd, Khalifa Sons (Pvt) Ltd, Siddique Sons Engineering (Pvt) Ltd, Vision Engineering (Pvt) Ltd, AW Engineering (Pvt) Ltd, FN Power (Pvt) Ltd, Gujranwala Cable (Pvt) Ltd, AH Associates (Pvt) Ltd, and Process Dynamics (Pvt) Ltd.
The CCP took suo motu notice and initiated an enquiry under Section 37(1) of the Competition Act, 2010. During the enquiry, search and inspections were also conducted at the premises of three Lahore-based companies, where critical documents and records were impounded for further examination.
During the enquiry, bidding data from 2015 to 2022, obtained from all DISCOs, particularly regarding the procurement of transmission towers, was analysed.
Economic evidence revealed a consistent pattern of bidding where these companies appeared to have submitted identical or near-identical rates, with differences as small as 0.001% to 1%. Out of 357 tenders evaluated, 135 showed signs of collusion, including identical rates, division of quantities, sole participation, and bid rotation.
Notably, AM Associates, Ajmer Engineering, and Khalifa Sons were found to have engaged in collective decision-making regarding the rates and quantities quoted, with the apparent aim of manipulating tender outcomes for mutual benefit.
The enquiry report found that this collusive behavior included mutual agreements on the number of firms participating in tenders, predetermined price-fixing, and strategic non-participation to ensure that the preselected firm would win.
Such practices constitute a, prima facie, violation of Section 4(2)(a)(b)(c)(e) of the Competition Act, 2010.
The CCP’s enquiry further concluded that the anti-competitive behavior of these ten companies extends beyond provincial boundaries, affecting market dynamics across Pakistan.
KARACHI – A masterful blend of refined elegance, imposing looks and elevated performance has helped Toyota Yaris to grab a significant share in Pakistani market which was earlier ruled by Honda City in this niche before the Yaris’ launching.
Besides carrying modern aesthetics, it features MID system that ensures convenience when you drive, offering door open and close alerts, Eco wallet and fuel economy records, and comprehensive drive information at your fingertips
Toyota Yaris is a testament to its engineering excellence as it delivers exhilarating driving experiences. It is available in two powerful engine formations: 1.3L NR and 1.5L NR. The smooth shifting of gears provides excellent driving performance and fuel efficiency.
The hatchback is equipped with three airbags to ensure the safety of the riders.
Toyota Yaris Variants in Pakistan
The variants of Toyota Yaris include 1.3 GLI MT, 1.3 GLI CVT, 1.3 ATIV MT, 1.3 ATIV CVT, 1.5 ATIV X CVT – Beige interior and 1.5 ATIV X CVT – Black interior.
Toyota Yaris 1.3 GLI CVT Price in Pakistan
The ex-factory price of Toyota Yaris 1.3 GLI CVT stands at Rs4,760,000 without any change as of September 2024.
Toyota Yaris 1.3 GLI CVT Easy Installment Plan by Meezan Bank
Various banks in Pakistan offers installment plans for vehicles. Here we have selected Meezan Bank to calculate the installment deal offered by it for Toyota Yaris 1.3 GLI CVT with 30% advance payment.
Under the 36-month installment plan, the per month rent for the vehicle will be Rs136,294.
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by half of a percentage point on Wednesday, kicking off what is expected to be a steady easing of monetary policy with a larger-than-usual reduction in borrowing costs that followed growing unease about the health of the job market.
The Fed’s decision will affect the rates at which commercial banks lend to consumers and businesses, bringing down the cost of borrowing on everything from mortgages to credit cards.
The news will likely be well-received by Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, who has looked to highlight President Joe Biden’s economic record in her race against Donald Trump.
Policymakers voted 11-to-1 in favour of lowering the US central bank’s benchmark rate to between 4.75% and 5%, the Fed announced in a statement.
The key holdout was Fed governor Michelle Bowman, who supported a more conventional quarter-point cut.
Fed ‘gained greater confidence’
The Fed said its rate-setting committee “has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2%, and judges that the risks to achieving its employment and inflation goals are roughly in balance.”
The bank has a dual mandate from Congress to act independently to tackle both inflation and employment.
Analysts were expecting the Fed to cut rates on Wednesday, as inflation eases toward the bank’s long-term target of two percent, and the labour market continues to cool in the surprisingly resilient post-Covid economy.
But they were highly uncertain about the size of the move, with some anticipating a small cut of a quarter of a percentage point, and others predicting a more significant half-point cut, which carries a greater risk of reigniting inflation.
In updated economic forecasts published alongside the Fed’s rate decision, policymakers’ median forecasts pointed to an unemployment rate of 4.4%, on average, in the fourth quarter of this year, up from 4% in the last update in June.
They also pencilled in an annual headline inflation rate of 2.3 percent, slightly lower than in June.
The decision to cut more sharply, to begin with, caught some analysts by surprise.
“In our base case, the Fed cuts 25bp (basis points) but signals 100bp of cuts this year with the median 2024 ‘dot'”, economists at Citi wrote in an investor note published ahead of the rate decision.
Election stakes
The Fed’s mandate gives it the independence to set monetary policy solely based on economic data.
But its decision will likely have political ramifications, given the importance of inflation and the cost of living to US consumers.
Americans have consistently said both are a top concern ahead of the election.
Trump has repeatedly criticised Fed Chair Powell, who he first appointed to run the Fed, and has suggested that its decisions are political — accusations the US central bank has strongly refuted.
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Your source for latest Pakistan, world news. Stay updated on politics, business, sports, lifestyle, CPEC, and breaking news. Accurate, timely, and comprehensive coverage.