Latest news with #PublicProcurementRegulatoryAuthority
Business Recorder
4 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
Express Tribune
20-02-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Third-party validation of Chromebooks purchase sought
Listen to article The government has instructed an independent third-party validation of the procurement process for refurbished Chromebooks by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training. The government has amended the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules to allow the Ministry of Education to procure refurbished Chromebooks. "An independent third-party validation must be incorporated into the procurement process, in consultation with the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of procurement," a source said quoting a decision taken by the federal cabinet in a recent meeting. The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training had requested the PPRA to allow it the purchase of 200,000 refurbished Chromebooks for students of schools and colleges under the Federal Directorate of Education in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) from the open market as these were available at lower prices. The ministry explained that various steps were being taken to renovate schools and colleges in ICT, including both infrastructure and technical upgrades, in order to provide quality education. These steps included the upgrading of existing IT labs in ICT schools and colleges by providing latest gadgets, laptops, smart screens and Chromebooks. The ministry noted that providing new laptops and Chromebooks was a costly solution as some laptops cost over Rs200,000 and new Chromebooks were priced above Rs100,000. This would place a heavy burden on the national exchequer. On the other hand, the refurbished Chromebooks, which had been specifically designed for educational purposes, were available locally at much cheaper and more affordable rates, around Rs50,000 to Rs55,000. The ministry assured the PPRA board that due procurement process would be followed in true spirit. It was noted that the PPRA board, in its 83rd meeting held on October 31, 2024, considered the ministry's request. After reviewing the justification provided by the ministry and following detailed deliberations, the board unanimously resolved to grant exemption from the General Conditions of the Contract, Clause 18 of the Standard Bidding Document for the Procurement of General Goods under Section 21 of the PPRA Ordinance 2002 to the Ministry of Federal Education for the procurement of 200,000 refurbished Chromebooks in different tranches – through open competitive bidding. The ministry was directed to develop generic specifications to ensure wider competition, in addition to other features such as performance, battery life, quality and design, and to insert a warranty clause in the contract document. Section 21 of the PPRA Ordinance stipulates that the authority may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, recommend to the federal government that the procurement of an object or a class of objects in the national interest be exempted from the operation of this ordinance or any rule or regulation made thereunder, or any other law regulating public procurement. Upon such recommendations, the federal government shall exempt the aforesaid objects or class of objects from the operation of laws, rules and regulations made thereunder. In light of the above, the recommendation of the PPRA to grant exemption from the General Conditions of the Contract, Clause 18 of the Standard Bidding Document for Procurement of General Goods for the procurement of refurbished Chromebooks (in different tranches) was presented to the federal cabinet for approval. During ensuing discussion, the minister observed that the Ministry of Federal Education must ensure that the Public Procurement Rules 2004 were transparently followed in the procurement of Chromebooks. These Chromebooks must meet the highest standards and quality. Additionally, an independent third-party validation must be incorporated into the procurement process, in consultation with the Ministry of IT and Telecom, to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of procurement. The cabinet decided that the Ministry of Federal Education shall ensure that the Public Procurement Rules were transparently followed in the procurement of refurbished Chromebooks, which must be of highest standard and quality in their category.
