Transparency in procurement and acquisition of services across all government departments is a top priority for the government,** said the Prime Minister.
- *Bringing transparency in the procurement process within government institutions will increase the confidence of foreign investors in Pakistan,* the Prime Minister added.
- The Prime Minister directed the implementation of reforms in the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) to make it free from any influence.
- *Third-party validation, including quality assurance, should be ensured for all government procurements,* the Prime Minister emphasized.
- The Prime Minister instructed the establishment of a committee, separate from the procurement agency, to address grievances related to the procurement process.
- The Prime Minister directed that *merit-based, skilled, professional, and experienced experts* should be appointed in PPRA.
- The Prime Minister instructed all government departments to use *e-Procurement (e-PADS)* for procurement processes.
- *Special procurement cells* should be established in government departments for the acquisition of goods and services, the Prime Minister directed.
- The Prime Minister emphasized that *transparency in government affairs is crucial for national development.*
- A briefing informed that a review of the *PPRA Ordinance* and related rules and regulations has been completed, and the amendments will soon be presented to the federal cabinet for approval.
- The purpose of these amendments is to enhance transparency in the procurement process and align it with contemporary requirements, the briefing stated.
The meeting was attended by the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Ahsan Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for Petroleum, Dr. Musaddiq Masood Malik, Finance Minister, Orangzeb Khan, Minister of State for IT, Shiza Fatima Khawaja, PPRA Board Members, World Bank Country Director, and senior officers from relevant institutions.