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Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Federal govt institutions: PPRA certifies 408 master trainers
ISLAMABAD: In a major initiative towards public procurement reform, the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), Pakistan has successfully trained and certified 408 master trainers from federal government institutions under the prime minister's vision for good governance, efficiency, and transparency. Over the past one year, PPRA conducted 15 specialised training sessions to advance e-procurement adoption and strengthen compliance with procurement regulations. A ceremony was held at PPRA Headquarters, where PPRA Managing Director Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi awarded certificates to the participants. The certified trainers will now lead training sessions on the e-Pak Acquisition and Disposal System (EPADS) within their respective organisations, promoting a standardized and digital procurement approach across Pakistan. Addressing the participants, Qureshi emphasised the importance of capacity building, highlighting that for the first time in PPRA's history, a structured and comprehensive training initiative has been launched to institutionalise e-procurement. He further announced that PPRA is finalising an accreditation framework to enhance capacity building and human resource development. He urged master trainers to play an active role in procurement processes within their institutions, encouraging them to build capacity of their colleagues in effective EPADS utilisation, which is set to revolutionise public procurement in Pakistan. The certificate distribution ceremony was attended by senior PPRA officials, including Atiq Sultan Raja, senior specialist – Capacity Building; Abdul Majeed, senior specialist – Monitoring and Evaluation; Farukh Bashir, director – Training; and other officers. Aligned with the prime minister's vision, procurement cells are being established across federal ministries, divisions, attached departments, autonomous bodies, and state-owned entities. The PPRA is implementing a comprehensive training programme to ensure the effective implementation of EPADS and compliance with the Public Procurement Regulatory Framework. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
31-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
PPRA holds consultative meeting on draft rules
ISLAMABAD: In a bid to obtain constructive feedback and recommendations on Draft Public Procurement Rules, 2025, Pakistan's Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) organised a consultative meeting on Friday, bringing together suppliers and vendors. The consultation was part of an ongoing effort to ensure inclusivity, transparency, efficiency, and global best practices in Pakistan's Public Procurement Framework. The Managing Director PPRA, Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi, chaired the meeting which was attended by representatives from the Pakistan Council of Architecture and Town Planners, the Construction Association of Pakistan, the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Islamabad Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Islamabad Industrial Association, and All Pakistan Security Agencies Association. Senior officers from PPRA were also present on the occasion. PPRAMD Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi provided an in-depth overview of the newly developed procurement rules, highlighting that the rules foster efficiency transparency, and accountability through the establishment of procurement cells in government institutions, the introduction of third-party evaluations and grievance redressal mechanisms, redesigned procurement process flow, innovative procurement methods, integrated contract management, cross-department and national blacklisting system. He highlighted that in line with vision of prime minister of Pakistan to ensure transparency, efficiency and accountability in public procurement, the e-Pak Acquisition & Disposal System (EPADS) is fully implemented in federal procuring agencies and provinces of Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, catering to the needs of around 10,000 procuring entities and more than 30,000 registered suppliers. It is providing end to end solutions, beginning from procurement planning to payment substantially reducing human involvement. 'A system without integrity is meaningless,' Qureshi remarked and informed participants that comprehensive security audit of the modern e-procurement system had been conducted, confirming its operations as secure and fully compliant with regulatory standards. He informed that PPRA has already launched a full-fledged and robust training programme to ensure capacity building of public sector professionals, suppliers, and vendors that would help to enhance efficiency and decrease the ratio of mis-procurements, encouraging the participants to avail the opportunities of training on PPRA regulations and EPADS operation. During the discussion, the participants provided valuable input on key aspects of the regulatory framework including bid evaluation criteria, e-procurement mechanism and allied challenges, and implementation of EPADS, suggesting that the new regulations must serve the interest of both public sector organisations and private sector suppliers. MD PPRA encouraged the participants to submit written recommendations that will be duly incorporated in the final draft of the Public Procurement Rules 2025. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
PPRA implements advanced e-PADS system
ISLAMABAD: The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) has successfully implemented an advanced e-procurement system, enabling registration of more than 28,000 suppliers including 400 foreign firms, Managing Director PPRA Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi informed on Wednesday. He stated that PPRA, following a robust framework and international standards, has introduced the e-Pak Acquisition & Disposal System (e-PADS), which has automated the entire procurement process. 'Thousands of vendors have already been registered on this modern e-procurement platform, including foreign companies which can now register within 24 hours after verification by the Federal Board of Revenue and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan,' Qureshi added. The MD PPRA said that suppliers can participate in public procurement from their mobile phones or laptops, and obstacles such as visiting the office and paying for tender documents have been removed. All the tasks— from procurement planning, tender submission, and bid analysis to awarding contracts— are now performed through a safe, innovative, and user-friendly online platform, he added. He elucidated that e-PADS is a foolproof automated system that entirely restricts human intervention, even no individual including MD PPRA could interfere in its operations. 'Regular security audits are conducted and access to records is made possible through the log system in case of complaints. This inbuilt security system and reduction of human interference is further promoting transparency and accountability,' he observed. He explained that in the wake of the 18th Constitutional Amendment, procurement being a provincial subject, provinces can enact their own procurement bodies and regulation frameworks. Despite the fact, all provinces including Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are using PPRA's e-PADS while Balochistan will adopt the platform in the coming month. He apprised that internet facilities have been improved in remote areas of the country, enabling supplier's accessibility to PPRA's e-procurement system. If any issues arise, vendors can seek assistance from provincial and federal PPRA through its helplines, which operates from 8am to midnight, and can visit offices in person to resolve any complex situation, he added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
