Pakistan Antitrust Watchdog Calls for Steel Ministry and National Policy to Overhaul Industry
The report argues that coherent leadership could replace the current patchwork of regulators.
Overview
- CCP published its Competition Assessment Study on Nov. 3 recommending a standalone Steel Ministry plus a National Steel Policy.
- FY24 data show 8.4 million metric tons of output (4.9M long, 3.5M flat), 2.7M MT of scrap imports, and per-capita use of 47 kg, highlighting weak demand and import reliance.
- CCP estimates that 50–60% of domestic steel is substandard due to weak enforcement, which disadvantages compliant producers.
- Pakistan Steel Mills has remained shut since 2015 despite 1.1M-ton capacity and now carries liabilities exceeding Rs400 billion.
- Proposals include ending ex-FATA/PATA tax exemptions that channel about 1.5M tons of untaxed steel into settled areas with roughly Rs40 billion in losses, stabilising SROs, formalising undocumented units, strengthening NTC processes, and supporting mining, DRI and green technologies.