Page 8 - CMA Journal (Jul-Aug 2026)

E x c lus iv e I nt er v iew

ICMA: With new Procurement Rules introducing OCDS, EPADS for thousands of procurement transactions worth
third-party oversight, and independent grievance billions, while continuing to operate under their own
redressal, how will PPRA adapt global best practices procurement laws and regulatory frameworks.
to Pakistan's institutional realities to ensure reforms Therefore, PPRA is focusing on a uni ed e-procurement
are truly transformative? system, not centralized decision-making. EPADS enhances
Hasnat Ahmed: PPRA's approach is to adopt transparency, interoperability, and accountability while
international best practices while aligning them with allowing institutions and provinces to retain their
Pakistan's legal, institutional, and operational framework. respective mandates and autonomy.
Alignment of EPADS data with the Open Contracting Data
Standard (OCDS) will make procurement information ICMA: What frameworks are being considered to
more structured, comparable, and accessible across the ensure interoperability of procurement data across
entire contracting cycle, enabling PPRA and other ministries, provinces, and international partners?
stakeholders to move from document-based oversight to Hasnat Ahmed: PPRA is pursuing interoperability
data-driven monitoring. through standardized, machine-readable procurement
The new Set of Public Procurement Rules, 2025 provides a data, secure APIs, and alignment with recognized
third-party oversight mechanism which will introduce an standards such as OCDS. EPADS can serve as the
additional layer of independent assurance, particularly for authoritative operational source for procurement data
high-value and high-risk procurements. Independent generated through the system, while information
grievance redressal is equally important in building originating from other government institutions can
stakeholders' con dence. The objective is to provide continue to be veri ed from the respective authoritative
suppliers with a fair, timely, and credible opportunity to source. EPADS is already integrated with FBR, NADRA,
lodge complaints against procurement decisions. This SECP, PEC, FABS, PRAs and DRAP, while oversight
re ects established international principles of dashboards support data sharing with regulatory and
independent review and adequate remedies. accountability bodies, which facilitates reliable data
However, the real transformation will come from exchange, registration of vendors/suppliers, and
implementation rather than regulation alone. While promotes transparency and accountability. This
moving a step forward, PPRA has already noti ed a pool architecture also facilitates interoperability with
of independent experts who will facilitate third-party provincial systems and will enable MDBs' procurement in
oversight and independent grievance redressal. Approval future. Lastly, PPRA is also closely coordinating with
of the new Set of PP Rules 2025 will further help to Pakistan Digital Authority for this purpose.
implement these mechanisms in real terms.
ICMA: The Committee emphasized aligning reforms
PPRA has aligned its regulatory framework with global with the URAAN Pakistan programme. How will PPRA
best practice following international standards of ensure that procurement reforms are not siloed but
transparency, accountability, and competition, combined integrated into the wider economic governance
with professionalization of procurement professionals agenda?
ICMA: EPADS 2.0 has already saved PKR 20.52 billion non-compliance and procurement cycle duration as well and development of digital e-procurement infrastructure.
in administrative costs. How can these e ciency gains as strengthening competition, these measures will ensure PPRA's transformation journey is not just focused on Hasnat Ahmed: Public procurement is a critical
be translated into long-term scal discipline and sustainable value for money, better cost management, following rules and regulations but on making public component of economic and scal governance because it
strategic value creation for Pakistan’s public sector, and strategic value creation in Pakistan’s public sector. procurement more transparent, competitive, e ective, determines how public resources are translated into
rather than remaining short-term savings? ICMA: The Five-Year Reform Roadmap envisions accountable, and able to deliver value for public money. goods, works, and services. PPRA Reform, particularly
Hasnat Ahmed: The real value of EPADS goes beyond the AI-based analytics and open contracting standards. ICMA: The vision of 'One Nation, One System' suggests EPADS, is a agship reform initiative of the Government of
Pakistan and top priority agenda of the Prime Minister's
administrative savings of PKR 20.52 billion recorded in the What safeguards are being built to prevent centralization of procurement under a uni ed digital Economic Governance Reform Program. This initiative is
scal year 2024-25. The gure represents the recurring algorithmic bias, data misuse, or exclusion of smaller platform. How will PPRA ensure that this also aligned with the Digital Pakistan Vision of the Prime
bene ts of digital procurement, not a one-o saving. vendors while pursuing digital transformation? centralization enhances transparency and Minister to strengthen transparency, accountability, and
EPADS has signi cant potential for savings in terms of Hasnat Ahmed: PPRA approach is to adopt arti cial accountability without sti ing institutional autonomy e ciency in public procurement. In addition, national
or innovation across diverse agencies?
contract cost, estimated up to 15 percent, compared to intelligence gradually and responsibly. AI in EPADS is digital transformation frameworks such as the Digital
manual procurement. With EPADS 2.0, the planned to be a support tool, in particular for analysis, risk Hasnat Ahmed: 'One Nation, One System' is intended to Nation Pakistan Act 2025 and the 5E Governance
institutionalization of structured procurement data, identi cation and decision support, while the statutory provide a common national digital procurement Framework position procurement reform as a model for
standardized procedures, increased transparency, and decision on procurement will remain with the authorized framework, not to centralize procurement decisions. broader public sector modernization. PPRA reforms are
real-time monitoring will lay the basis for evidence-based o cials and procurement committees. AI functionality EPADS standardizes processes, data, and transparency also guided by global best practices, including insights
planning,
procurement
while
requirements,
decision-making and better procurement planning. will be subject to data quality assessment, human speci cations, evaluation, and contract management from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. PPRA
With EPADS 2.0, end to end integration covering contract supervision, algorithmic transparency, cybersecurity, remain the responsibility of the respective Procuring therefore views PPRA Reforms and EPADS as part of the
management, commitment accounting, e invoicing, audibility, and an appropriate governance framework. At Agencies and competent authorities. broader digital-government ecosystem rather than a
digital payments, and oversight dashboards will translate the same time, digital learning, helpdesk support, and EPADS is already implemented in Punjab, Sindh, and standalone procurement application.
e ciency gains into long term scal discipline. Coupled transparent electronic processes will continue to facilitate Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and it has demonstrated that “One
with PPRA’s reform roadmap focusing on reducing participation by suppliers of di erent sizes and capacities. Nation, One System” principle promotes national The Editorial Board thanks Mr. Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi, Managing
Director, Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) for
harmonization without jeopardizing institutional or sparing his precious time to give an exclusive interview for Chartered
provincial autonomy. Provinces have successfully utilized Management Accountant Journal.
6 ICMA’s Chartered Management Accountant, Jul-Aug 2026