Karachi: The public provides Regulatory Authority (PPRA) has teamed up with the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) to launch a specialized capacity building initiative aimed at strengthening transparency and efficiency of public procurement. This decision is aligned with the Prime Minister’s directives to digitize Pakistan and improve the value for money in public spending.
The director general of the PPRA, Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi, announced the launch of the second cohort of the professional diploma in public procurement and contract management, a four -month program that begins on May 18 on the Islamabad campus in Nust. This initiative is based on the current collaborations of APPR with the World Bank and the main national universities to develop a skills framework and integrate purchase education in university programs.
The diploma program is designed to equip government officials, private sector experts, suppliers, suppliers, commercial entities and development practitioners with specialized knowledge in purchasing regulations, best practices and contract management. The modules will cover subjects ranging from the fundamental principles of transparent supply and the legal framework for the maximization of efficiency, strategic selection, contract management, e-procurement through the E-PAK acquisition and elimination system (EPADS) and public-private partnership models.
Qureshi highlighted the importance of the participation of stakeholders on the initiative, urging public sector institutions to fully engage in capacity building efforts. He noted that, in accordance with the Prime Minister’s directives, special purchasing cells have been established within federal government institutions and that the implementation of the electronic procedure through the EPDS is underway. Officials assigned to these cells are currently undergoing training to improve the responsibility and efficiency of public sector operations.
