Detailed briefing on e-PADS 2.0; recommendations to hold Islamabad Club elections soon and refer NAVTTC matter to Privileges Committee

Islamabad (Izhar Khan Niazi): The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat has directed the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) to further improve transparency, standardize procedures, and strengthen cybersecurity measures in the country’s public procurement system.

The Committee reviewed the performance of PPRA during a meeting held at Islamabad Club under the chairmanship of Senator Rana Mahmood-ul-Hassan.

During the meeting, the Managing Director of PPRA gave a detailed briefing on the Electronic Pakistan Acquisition and Disposal System (e-PADS 2.0), stating that the system has digitized the entire procurement process, from planning to contract approval. He added that payments made outside the system are not accepted, ensuring transparency, financial accountability, and effective monitoring.

The Committee sought a detailed briefing in its upcoming meeting on the cybersecurity framework of e-PADS, data protection measures, and encryption systems in line with international standards. It also directed PPRA to expand the scope of vendor training programs across the country to ensure wider adoption and effective use of the digital procurement system.

PPRA informed the Committee that, in view of the situation in the Middle East, no special exemptions have been granted for the procurement of fuel or other essential commodities. The Authority stated that existing legal provisions are sufficient to address emergency procurement requirements.

The Committee expressed displeasure over the absence of the Islamabad Club administrator from the meeting and recommended that elections of the club be conducted at the earliest. It also decided to raise the matter with the Prime Minister’s Office.

The Committee further expressed serious concern over the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) for failing to implement previous directives. It recommended referring the matter to the Privileges Committee for further consideration.