ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has issued show-cause notices to eight medical colleges over alleged violation of section 10 of the Competition Act 2010, which prohibits business establishments from engaging in deceptive marketing practices.

The notices follow an inquiry conducted by the CCP into allegations of deceptive marketing practices after a press release issued by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) said that 22 private medical and dental colleges, which had failed to meet its registration criteria, were either not recognised or had been stopped fromadmitting students for the 2013-14 session.

The inquiry found that eight of the 22 colleges had lied about their recognition by the PMDC on their websites and/or failed to mention the restriction on the admissions.

The eight institutions are: Pak Red Crescent Medical and Dental College, Lahore; Mohiuddin Islamic Medical College, Mirpur (AJK); Independent Medical College, Faisalabad; Women Medical College, Abbottabad; Hashmat Medical and Dental College, Gujrat; Bhitai Medical and Dental College, Mirpurkhas (Sindh); AJK Medical College, Muzaffarabad; and Abbottabad International Medical College.-Reporter