E-procurement system to be enforced in govt depts: Mujtaba

LAHORE:Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman said that the Punjab government is committed to ensuring the implementation of an e-procurement system in government departments under the Public Finance Management Reforms.

The minister chairing the eighth meeting of the Steering Committee on Public Finance Management Reforms at the Finance Department's committee room, highlighted that the main objective of launching the e-procurement system is to ensure the efficient utilisation of the province’s financial resources. Reforms introduced in the tax and pension systems are also part of this broader initiative.

He said the introduction of this system for the online procurement of goods and services will not only save time and resources but also curb potential corruption in the procurement process. Additionally, it will help restore suppliers' confidence in public institutions and improve service delivery, he added.

The minister further stated that all government-level procurement under the e-procurement system will be closely monitored. A dedicated digital monitoring control room will be established for real-time tracking of procurement activities.

During the meeting, the performance of the Punjab Public Finance Management Unit was reviewed. Head of the Public Finance Management Reforms Unit Samia Mukhtar provided a comprehensive briefing on the procurement plan for the current fiscal year. The meeting also discussed a five-point agenda, which included the approval of procurements by the Punjab Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA).

Additional Secretary of Finance, Member Board of Revenue, DG Excise and Taxation, DG Punjab Information Technology Board and relevant officials from PPRA, Planning and Development, and the Finance Department attended the session.