ISLAMABAD ( WNAM REPORT ): Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and Air University Islamabad jointly launched a Four-Month Professional Diploma in Public Procurement and Contract Management as part of its ongoing efforts to professionalize Pakistan’s public procurement system and build a skilled workforce capable of ensuring transparency, efficiency, and value for money in the use of public resources.
Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi, Managing Director, graced the launching ceremony, held at Air University as a guest of honor. The event was attended by Air Commodore (Retd.) Mr. Zaheer Mirza, Director Centre for Professional Development (CPD), Air University, and Mr. Atique Sultan Raja, Senior Specialist (Training & Capacity Building), PPRA, along with participants from various government organizations, public sector entities, and the private sector.
Speaking on the occasion, MD PPRA Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi, highlighted the strategic importance of public procurement in national development and good governance. He noted that public procurement accounts for a significant share of government expenditure and directly impacts the quality, cost, and timely delivery of public services and development projects.
Qureshi highlighted that capacity building is a key pillar of PPRA’s reform agenda. To date, PPRA has trained more than 15,000 procurement professionals, government officials, and vendors, including 7,491 since the launch of the e-Pak Acquisition and Disposal System (EPADS) in 2023.
He informed that PPRA has established partnerships with leading universities, including the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Air University, and COMSATS University, to introduce structured education in public procurement, procurement regulation, contract management, and procurement governance. In collaboration with NUST, PPRA has successfully completed two four-month diploma programmes, graduating around 150 professionals, while the newly launched diploma at Air University has enrolled more than 40 participants.
Qureshi further said that PPRA is working closely with universities and higher education institutions to integrate procurement studies into undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, enabling future lawyers, engineers, managers, accountants, economists, and public administrators to graduate with a strong understanding of procurement governance.
Speaking on the occasion, Air Commodore (Retd.) Zaheer Mirza, Director, Centre for Professional Development (CPD), Air University, welcomed the participants and appreciated the collaboration with PPRA. He said the diploma program reflects Air University’s commitment to professional education by providing practical and industry-relevant learning opportunities for working professionals.
