Bestway Cement enters auto sector after CCP clears Al-Haj Automotive acquisition

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has approved the acquisition of Al-Haj Automotive (Private) Limited by Bestway Automotive (Private) Limited after completing a Phase-I competition assessment under the Competition Act, 2010.

According to a statement issued by the CCP, Bestway Automotive filed a pre-merger application on January 26, 2026, under Section 11 of the Competition Act, based on an Asset Purchase Agreement signed between the parties on December 22, 2025.

Bestway Automotive is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bestway Cement Limited, a company listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange. The company plans to assemble, market, and sell automobiles in Pakistan. 

Al-Haj Automotive is engaged in the assembly, marketing, and sale of vehicles, including sedans and SUVs, along with related spare parts.

According to the Commission’s assessment, both the acquirer and the target currently hold no production or market share in the defined relevant market. As a result, the transaction is not expected to increase market concentration or affect the competitive structure of the sector.

The CCP concluded that the transaction would neither create nor strengthen a dominant position and is unlikely to substantially lessen competition or restrict market entry. It therefore authorised the acquisition under the applicable legal framework.

The approval clears the way for Bestway Automotive’s entry into Pakistan’s automobile sector through the acquisition structure.

Last year, Bestway Cement announced plans to establish a wholly owned subsidiary to enter Pakistan’s automobile sector, with an initial equity investment of up to Rs4 billion and a shareholder loan of up to Rs6 billion to the new subsidiary.