Manzoor Ahmed Magsi:
Quetta: The Balochistan Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (BPPRA) recently hosted a high-profile workshop on the “Methodology for Assessment of Procurement Systems” (MAPS), bringing together key stakeholders and experts in Quetta.
The event aimed to review initial MAPS findings for Balochistan’s procurement framework, setting a precedent within Pakistan by aligning the province’s public procurement practices with international standards.
Prominent attendees included representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank, and public procurement regulatory authorities from across Pakistan.
Distinguished participants were Secretary Health Mujeeb Ur Rahman Panizai, Secretary Fisheries Dr. Javed Anwar Shahwani, Additional Chief Secretary of Azad Kashmir Maidaat Shahzad, MD PPRA Punjab Waqar Azim, ADB Consultant Peter Trept, and Senior Procurement Consultant from the World Bank Rehan Haider, among others.
The MAPS workshop provided a comprehensive platform to assess Balochistan’s procurement system, emphasizing transparency, efficiency, and accountability. ADB and World Bank experts introduced global best practices and highlighted the MAPS tool’s effectiveness in fostering procurement reforms. MAPS is a universal assessment methodology developed by the World Bank and Development Assistance Committee, which has been adopted by multiple countries to standardize and optimize procurement practices.
BPPRA’s Managing Director, Afzal Khusti, emphasized the role of stakeholder collaboration in the success of this assessment. He stated that gathering diverse insights through workshops like these strengthens the MAPS initiative and supports the ongoing transformation of public procurement in Balochistan. The workshop followed an initial MAPS session held earlier in the year, building upon foundational efforts to modernize procurement.
By engaging with MAPS, Balochistan aims to drive procurement improvements that align with international standards, support foreign investment, and strengthen global partnerships. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to transforming public procurement, signaling a new era of accountability and operational excellence in the province’s public sector.
