The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) has officially implemented landmark reforms to modernise public procurement across Pakistan. Aligned with the Prime Minister’s “Digital Pakistan Vision”, the authority is now ready to launch EPADS 2.0, an upgraded version of the e-Pak Acquisition and Disposal System.
Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi, Managing Director of PPRA, announced this development during a media briefing in Islamabad on Monday. He confirmed that the new system follows a comprehensive diagnostic review by international and local consultants.
Digital Transformation by the Numbers
The transition to e-procurement has already shown significant results. Qureshi highlighted that the system is currently operational within the Federal Government and three provinces.
The platform has registered 9,846 procuring agencies and 43,000 suppliers, including 600 foreign vendors. During the 2024–25 financial year alone, the system processed 526,271 transactions. These transactions carried a total value of Rs. 1,408.58 billion.
Furthermore, the digital shift has boosted competition. Open competitive bidding now attracts an average of five to seven bidders. In contrast, manual procurement typically saw only two to three bidders.
Seamless Integration & Real-Time Oversight
EPADS is now fully integrated with key national institutions. These include the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), NADRA, SECP, Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), and the Financial Accounting and Budgeting System (FABS).
To ensure accountability, PPRA has provided dedicated dashboards to oversight bodies such as:
- The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP)
- The National Accountability Bureau (NAB)
- The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP)
MD PPRA remarked:
With the integration of national institutions and real-time dashboards for oversight bodies, EPADS has transformed procurement into a system where every transaction is verified, accountability is strengthened at every stage, and public trust is safeguarded through transparency.
Additionally, the system now enables live transmission of bidding processes for high-value projects. This applies to goods and services above Rs. 500 million and works above Rs. 1 billion.
PPRA Roadmap & Regulatory Shift
MD Qureshi outlined a strict rollout schedule for EPADS 2.0. The system goes live federally in January 2026, followed by Gilgit Baltistan and AJK in February, and the provinces in March. By September 2026, all donor-funded procurements will route through this platform.
To support this tech, PPRA has overhauled the legal framework. The new Public Procurement Rules 2025 mandate e-procurement and third-party oversight. The authority has also prioritised human capital, training over 10,000 officials in collaboration with NUST, LUMS, and IBA to ensure the system is run by qualified professionals.
