SPPRA board decides implementation of e-procurement system

Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar on Sunday chaired the 44th board meeting of the Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (SPPRA) and took major decisions including immediate implementation of the e-procurement system.

Officials said the SPPRA managing director provided a detailed briefing to the board regarding the discussions and agenda items. Lanjar, who is also the SPPRA chairman, stated that the purpose of the meeting was to modernise the procurement process for all government departments, including the auction and disposal of public assets, and to bring transparency.

The board approved immediate implementation of an e-procurement system — e-Purchase and Disposal System (EPADS) — in all government departments in Sindh. The board approved amendments to the SPPRA Act, Rules, and Regulations, as well as necessary changes to various regulations, aimed at improving the procurement process.

Regarding the disposal and auction of public assets, the board approved an expansion of SPPRA’s jurisdiction in relation to the auction/disposal of public assets. Under the recommendations and suggestions for establishing a procurement cell and unit, a procurement cell would be established in each department to ensure that procurements made by the departments were in line with standards and harmonised.

The board also approved the establishment of a training institute under the SPPRA, which would provide formal training to Sindh government officials in public procurement matters. The board appreciated and commended the overall performance of the SPPRA in implementing the e-procurement system and the training strategy.