PPRA unveils major digital reforms in public procurement

January 12, 2026 (MLN): The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) has introduced sweeping reforms to modernize Pakistan’s public procurement framework, aligning it with the Prime Minister’s Digital Pakistan Vision and global best practices.

At the heart of this transformation is the e-Pak Acquisition and Disposal System (EPADS), which is now set to enter a more advanced phase with the launch of EPADS 2.0, as reported by APP.

Managing Director PPRA Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi said the authority introduced a comprehensive reform programme in 2024 after a diagnostic review by international and local consultants.

He said the initiative followed the subsequent approval of a reform roadmap by the Prime Minister.

The reforms span e-procurement, legal amendments, capacity building, and institutional restructuring.

He noted that EPADS has already been implemented across the federal government and three provinces, significantly digitizing procurement operations.

To date, 9,846 procuring agencies and around 43,000 suppliers, including nearly 600 foreign vendors, have registered on the platform.

During FY2024-25 alone, more than 526,000 procurement transactions valued at Rs1.41tr were processed through EPADS.

Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi highlighted that EPADS is fully integrated with key national institutions, including the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), NADRA, and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP).

He said the system is also linked with the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), Financial Accounting and Budgeting System (FABS), Provincial Revenue Authorities (PRAs), and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP).

Dedicated real-time dashboards have also been provided to oversight bodies such as the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP), NAB, PEC, and the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP).

“With institutional integration and real-time oversight, EPADS has transformed public procurement into a transparent and fully verifiable system, strengthening accountability and enhancing public confidence,” the PPRA chief remarked.

According to Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi, the shift to digital procurement has curbed collusive practices and boosted competition, with open tenders now attracting an average of five to seven bidders, compared to two to three bidders under the manual system.

EPADS also captures petty purchases and RFQs, offers an effective grievance redressal mechanism, restricts blacklisted firms, and flags procurement delays.

It also enables live streaming of large-scale bids exceeding Rs500m for goods and services and Rs1bn for works.

Outlining the roadmap ahead, Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi announced that EPADS 2.0 a smarter, more user-friendly, and dynamic platform will be launched at the federal level in January 2026, followed by Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK in February, and provincial rollout in March.

Advanced monitoring and analytical reporting will begin in July, while donor-funded procurements will be routed through EPADS by September 2026.

An Online Procurement Academy is planned for October, and adoption of Open Contracting Data Standards (OCDS) is targeted for December 2026.

On the regulatory front, PPRA is pursuing amendments to the PPRA Ordinance 2002, finalizing the Public Procurement Rules 2025, and harmonizing regulations and standard bidding documents nationwide.

The new rules introduce mandatory e-procurement and e-disposal, third-party oversight, independent grievance redressal, procurement cells, and professionalization of procurement functions.

“These regulatory changes aim to remove ambiguity, enhance transparency, ensure fairness, and promote competition and efficiency,” he  stated.

Further, it was shared that capacity building remains a key priority, with over 10,000 officials trained so far, including 2,499 officials and suppliers during FY2024-25, in collaboration with institutions such as NUST, LUMS, IBA, and Air University.

A standardized competency framework is also being developed to accredit procurement professionals.

As part of institutional reforms, PPRA has hired technical experts and IT professionals through competitive processes and established procurement cells within procuring entities.

It has also digitized internal operations, set up a modern EPADS training facility, and launched a 16-hour dedicated help desk for continuous support.

Concluding the briefing, Hasnat Ahmed  Qureshi said the ongoing reforms mark a decisive move toward modern procurement governance, embedding transparency, accountability, and efficiency throughout the procurement cycle.

He added that these measures are strengthening Pakistan’s credibility in line with international standards.

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