In line with the Prime Minister’s vision for a Digital Pakistan, the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) has successfully trained over 10,000 professionals across the country in modern e-procurement practices and regulatory frameworks. The development was shared by Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi, Managing Director of PPRA, during the inauguration of a new capacity-building initiative focused on public procurement and contract management.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Qureshi emphasized the government’s commitment to digitizing procurement systems to promote transparency, efficiency, and accountability in public spending. The latest training effort is part of PPRA’s ongoing partnership with the NUST Professional Development Centre (PDC), where the second batch of the Professional Diploma in Public Procurement has commenced. The four-month program, hosted at NUST’s Islamabad campus, is attended by over 70 participants, including government officials, private sector experts, business vendors, suppliers, and development sector professionals.
The diploma curriculum covers a wide range of modules designed to build deep expertise in procurement processes. Topics include effective and transparent procurement practices, the legal and regulatory landscape, strategic and fair vendor selection, international procurement standards, and e-procurement via the e-Pak Acquisition and Disposal System (EPADS). The course also includes insights into international donor-funded procurement and public-private partnership (PPP) models.
Qureshi highlighted that procurement cells have already been established in various government institutions, following the directives of the Prime Minister. Officials stationed in these units are being trained to fully utilize the e-PADS system and adhere to PPRA regulations, ensuring procurement activities are carried out with competence and integrity.
“To meet growing market needs, PPRA is expanding its national training footprint to develop skilled professionals at every stage of the procurement lifecycle,” he stated. He called on all public sector organizations to actively engage in these programs to align their practices with legal mandates, ethical standards, and global procurement benchmarks.
A key highlight of the event was the impact of PPRA’s e-procurement platform, which has emerged as a cornerstone of digital governance in Pakistan. According to Qureshi, the system contributes to 10–25% savings in government expenditure, while also enhancing transparency, competitiveness, time efficiency, and the overall ease of doing business. Additionally, the digital system helps reduce the carbon footprint, aligning with Pakistan’s broader sustainability goals.
The e-procurement system has already onboarded over 28,000 suppliers, including 400 international companies, signaling strong domestic and foreign trust in the platform. Furthermore, 700 federal, 5,000 Punjab-based, and 200 Sindh-based public procurement agencies are actively utilizing the platform to conduct procurement processes.
The event was attended by senior officials from PPRA, procurement expert Ali Raza Hanjra, a senior representative from the Federal Board, and Muhammad Ali, General Manager of PDC at NUST. Their participation underlined the importance of collaborative institutional efforts in strengthening Pakistan’s public procurement ecosystem.
This initiative marks another milestone in Pakistan’s journey towards smart governance, showcasing how digital tools, strategic training, and regulatory compliance can converge to make public procurement more transparent, cost-effective, and future-ready.
