Govt orders fast-track probe into alleged cartelisation in cooking oil, ghee sector

The government has directed the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) to conduct a fast-track investigation into allegations of cartelisation in the cooking oil and ghee industry. The directive was issued during a meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee, which asked the competition watchdog to present its preliminary findings at the committee’s next meeting. 

As per reports, the committee also noted concerns over the quality of cooking oil and ghee and said relevant ministries and provincial departments should take the matter seriously.

The NPMC reviewed cooking oil price trends in line with a decision taken by the Economic Coordination Committee on July 25, 2025. The CCP informed participants that it had initiated an inquiry into alleged cartelisation in the palm oil and ghee sector in November 2025 and was in the process of collecting information, with a preliminary report expected in the coming months.

The committee decided that the Ministry of Industries and Production, in coordination with the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority, would work with provincial food authorities to ensure compliance with prescribed quality standards for vegetable oil and ghee. A compliance report is to be submitted at the next NPMC meeting.

The meeting also tasked the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, along with the food and agriculture section of the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, to prepare a policy paper on agri-products that could be incentivised to reduce the import bill. The paper will also examine the impact of general sales tax on processed foods.

It was also decided that the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics would prepare weekly or monthly rankings of districts based on price control performance and share them with federal and provincial authorities. The chief statistician presented an analysis of inflation trends, flood-related impacts on food prices, wholesale-retail differentials, and domestic and international cooking oil prices.