Islamabad (Khyber Mail): In alignment with the Prime Minister’s vision for Digital Pakistan, the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) has successfully trained over 10,000 professionals on its e-procurement system and regulatory framework, further strengthening procurement efficiency and transparency.
The milestone was announced by Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi, Managing Director of PPRA, at the opening ceremony of a comprehensive capacity-building initiative focused on public procurement and contract management. As part of this initiative, PPRA, in collaboration with NUST Professional Development Centre (PDC), has launched the second batch of its professional diploma program, a four-month training course at the NUST campus in Islamabad.
The program, attended by more than 70 participants, brings together government officials, private sector experts, vendors, suppliers, business entities, and development practitioners to enhance their expertise in procurement management. It covers a wide range of modules, including effective and transparent public procurement, legal and regulatory frameworks, contract management, international procurement standards, public-private partnerships, and e-procurement through the E-Pak Acquisition and Disposal System (EPADS).
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Qureshi emphasized the government’s commitment to modernizing procurement processes. He highlighted that procurement cells have already been established within government institutions, ensuring that officials receive comprehensive training on e-PADS and PPRA regulations to uphold principles of competence and transparency.
“To meet the market need, PPRA is expanding its nationwide training program to build professional expertise at every stage of the procurement process,” said Mr. Qureshi, urging public sector institutions to actively engage in capacity-building efforts. He emphasized that Pakistan’s e-procurement platform plays a key role in saving 10-25% in government expenditure, while promoting transparency, cost-effectiveness, competitiveness, and ease of doing business.
Currently, over 28,000 suppliers, including 400 foreign companies, are registered on the e-procurement system. Around 700 federal, 5,000 Punjab-based, and 200 Sindh-based public procurement agencies are actively utilizing the platform.
The event was attended by senior officials from PPRA, procurement expert Ali Raza Hanjra, a senior official from the Federal Board, and General Manager PDC NUST, Muhammad Ali.