PPRA trains over 10,000 professionals as digital governance push gains momentum

KARACHI: The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) has trained over 10,000 professionals in e-procurement and regulatory compliance, aligning with the government’s drive for digital governance and transparency.

The milestone was announced by PPRA Managing Director Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi during the launch of a four-month professional diploma in public procurement and contract management at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) in Islamabad. Now in its second batch, the programme -- run in collaboration with NUST’s Professional Development Centre -- has enrolled more than 70 participants, including public officials, vendors, and development sector professionals. Modules cover legal frameworks, e-procurement via the e-Pak Acquisition and Disposal System (EPADS), contract management, and international standards, including donor-funded procurement and PPP models.

Qureshi said procurement cells have been established in government departments under prime ministerial directives, with officials receiving targeted training in e-PADS and PPRA protocols. “To meet market demand, the PPRA is expanding its nationwide training to enhance professional capacity across all stages of the procurement cycle,” he added.He urged public sector institutions to engage with the programme to strengthen compliance, efficiency and transparency in line with international best practices.

Qureshi also highlighted the performance of the e-procurement platform, which has reportedly delivered 10-25 per cent cost savings and improved ease of doing business. The platform now supports over 28,000 registered suppliers, including 400 foreign firms, and is actively used by 700 federal, 5,000 Punjab-based, and 200 Sindh-based agencies.