Sindh procurement authority digitizes management system after corruption charges

KARACHI: Amid widespread corruption allegations, the Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (SPPRA) launched new digitized Procurement Performance Management System (PPMS) here on Thursday.

The launching ceremony was held at a local hotel in Karachi the meeting was attended by the Minister Food & Parliamentary Affairs and the SPPRA Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, the industries department secretary, Sindh planning & development chief economist, , World Bank senior procurement specialist, of Transparency International Pakistan representatives, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Sindh representatives, Balochistan PPRA officials and the Karachi Contractors Association representatives.

SPPRA Managing Director Khalid Chahar, while highlighting the importance of the system, informed that the system has been developed with the assistance of the World Bank for enhancing the transparency, fairness and efficiency in the public procurement process.

He added that the system will automate the procurement procedures and generate alerts and notification for its users for different requirements under Sindh Public Procurement Rules.

Khalid Chachar, who remained in the media in the last few days over his massive alleged malpractices in hiding the details of the tenders, apprised that the system also has a virtual meeting place where prospective bidders and suppliers can share information, ideas and suggestions with procuring agencies.

The PPMS have a built-in complaints management system, which will allow complaints to be lodged directly.

Tracking of complaints right from lodging to the resolution will be available. Chachar added that procuring agencies will get user ID and password by filling in the online form on the system.

Nisar Ahmed Khuhro appreciated the system and hoped that it would boost the development activities in the province.  He emphasised upon the procuring agencies to shift on the new system and get training to use it efficiently.  He appreciated the efforts taken by Sindh PPRA team.  In the end, he inaugurated the PPMS by pressing the button.

According to sources, SPPRA Information Technology (IT) section has allegedly been involved in hiding tenders from the authority’s website that resulted in awarding of multi-million worth contracts based on personal preferences.

The sources also informed that in the recent past, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had also launched investigations into the matter citing it as cybercrime while the anti-corruption authorities had also raided and seized the record a few days ago.