News Detail
Event Title: Senator Rana Mahmood Ul Hassan, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat presiding over a meeting of the committee at Islamabad Club, Islamabad
Event Date: 2026-07-29
Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat Reviews PPRA Reforms and Procurement Framework
The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat met today at Islamabad Club under the chairmanship of Senator Rana Mahmood-ul-Hassan to review the performance of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and deliberate on reforms aimed at further strengthening Pakistan’s public procurement framework.
The meeting was attended by Senators Saadia Abbasi, Amir Waliuddin Chishti, Mohammad Abdul Qadir, and senior officials of the concerned departments.
The Managing Director PPRA briefed the Committee on the adoption of the Electronic Pakistan Acquisition and Disposal System (ePADS 2.0), implementation of the Public Procurement Rules across federal entities, harmonisation of procurement regulations with provincial authorities, and the legal framework governing procurement of essential commodities during emergency situations.
The Committee was informed that ePADS 2.0 has significantly enhanced transparency by digitising the procurement process from planning to contract award. Standard Bidding Documents (SBDs) have been integrated into the system to ensure uniformity and prevent unauthorised modifications. Members were further informed that payments processed outside the ePADS platform are no longer accepted, reinforcing compliance, transparency and financial accountability.
During the discussion, members raised questions regarding the distinction between manual and electronic procurement, procurement timelines, Most Advantageous Bid (MAB) evaluation methodology, data security, cybersecurity safeguards and overall governance of the ePADS platform. PPRA officials explained that contracts are awarded on the basis of the Most Advantageous Bid (MAB) evaluation methodology, while technical specifications and qualification criteria are determined by the procuring agencies in accordance with the Public Procurement Rules. Officials further informed the Committee that complaints are addressed through a structured grievance redressal mechanism before parties may seek legal remedies.
The Committee emphasised the need to further strengthen cybersecurity safeguards, continuously enhance the ePADS platform, expand vendor training nationwide, and present a dedicated briefing on the system’s cybersecurity architecture and data protection framework in a forthcoming meeting. The Committee further directed PPRA to submit a comparative analysis of the encryption methodologies and cybersecurity practices adopted by leading international public procurement authorities to assess Pakistan’s alignment with global best practices and identify areas for further strengthening.
Regarding the procurement of fuel and other essential commodities in light of the evolving situation in the Middle East, PPRA clarified that no special exemption or relaxation was granted. The Authority informed the Committee that existing provisions of Public Procurement Rule 21A already provide a legal mechanism for emergency procurement to address urgent demand-supply gaps, eliminating the need for any separate exemption.
The Committee also reviewed the draft Disposal of Public Assets Regulations, 2026, which have been prepared to align with ePADS operational requirements and the revised public procurement framework. PPRA informed members that the draft regulations have been revised in light of legal observations and will be notified upon completion of the approval process. A dedicated disposal module has also been developed in ePADS to ensure transparent disposal of public assets.
During the meeting, members also expressed concern over the absence of the Administrator, Islamabad Club, despite the meeting being hosted at the venue. The Committee observed that the Administrator should have attended the meeting or formally informed the Committee of any inability to participate. The Committee unanimously recommended that elections of Islamabad Club be conducted at the earliest in accordance with the applicable rules and decided that the matter be taken up with the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Committee also expressed serious concern over the failure of the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) to comply with directions issued during an earlier meeting. It unanimously recommended referring the matter to the Privileges Committee while also bringing it to the notice of the Prime Minister.
The Chairman directed PPRA to continue strengthening the procurement framework through greater standardisation, enhanced transparency, stronger cybersecurity safeguards and continuous improvement of the ePADS platform. He further directed the Authority to present a comprehensive briefing on ePADS and ongoing procurement reforms in the Committee’s forthcoming meeting.
The meeting concluded with the Committee reaffirming its commitment to promoting transparent, efficient and accountable public procurement in Pakistan through effective parliamentary oversight and continued institutional reforms.