The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has issued show-cause notices to 17 major private school systems for allegedly forcing parents to buy costly branded school supplies from specific vendors chosen by the schools.
According to the CCP, many parents and guardians complained that schools were making them purchase notebooks, workbooks, uniforms, and other items only from selected outlets or through online portals approved by the school. In several cases, students were not allowed to bring normal, cheaper items bought from the open market.
The CCP’s investigation found that these schools used their powerful position to limit the choices of parents. The commission explained that schools have “captive consumers,” because once a child is enrolled, parents must follow the system’s requirements. By tying school admission and attendance with the compulsory purchase of branded goods, the schools created an unfair situation for families.
During the inquiry, the CCP reviewed two areas:
- The market for education services.
- The market for school supplies such as notebooks, uniforms, and stationery.
The commission noted that many branded “study packs” were being sold at extremely high prices — in some cases up to almost three times the price of similar items available in the open market. CCP also said that small stationery shops and uniform sellers were being pushed out because parents were being forced to buy only from exclusive vendors.
The CCP believes these actions may violate Pakistan’s Competition Act, which prohibits abuse of dominant market position. The schools named in the notices include some of the country’s largest systems, such as Beaconhouse, The City School, Lahore Grammar School, Roots International, KIPS, Allied Schools, and others.
All the schools have been asked to submit written replies within 14 days and to appear before the CCP through their authorized representatives. If they fail to respond, the commission can hold ex-parte hearings and take action under the law. Penalties may include heavy fines, which can go up to 10 percent of a school’s annual turnover or a fixed amount set under the Competition Act.
The CCP stated that this issue affects millions of families because nearly half of Pakistan’s student population is enrolled in private schools. The commission added that parents are already struggling with rising costs, and forcing them to buy overpriced supplies adds unnecessary financial pressure.
The action by the CCP aims to protect parents, ensure fair pricing, and stop schools from creating closed markets that hurt both consumers and small businesses across the country.
