Third-party validation of all procurements ordered

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the relevant authorities on Thursday to ensure third-party validation and quality insurance in all government procurements. Presiding over a meeting to review good governance and public procurements, the prime minister also directed the authorities to bring reforms in the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and purge the authority of any influence. “Procurement of services, in a transparent way, is the top priority of the government,” the prime minister said, adding that ensuring transparency in the government institutions’ procurement would help build the foreign investors’ confidence in Pakistan. The PM ordered the establishment of a committee, separate from the procurement agency, to address complaints related to the procurement process.