Our Correspondent 
PESHAWAR, MAR 14 /DNA/ – In a bid to ensure optimum transparency in all kinds of public procurement and  government contracts, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to introduce an online system from the upcoming financial year for all types public procurement and award of contracts   by the provincial government departments. The decision was taken in a meeting held  here the other day regarding E-procurement initiative with Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa  Mahmood Khan In the chair. The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah, Principal Secretary to CM Amjad Ali Khan, Secretary Finance, Administrative Secretaries of concerned departments and senior officials of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Procurement Regulatory Authority. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (KPPRA) has developed a new online e-procurement system with all the required features for online procurement and award of contracts. It may be recalled here that the provincial government had already introduced  e-bidding and e-tendering system for contracts in works departments, however,  procurement of goods and services is still  being carried out in traditional way in government departments. With the implementation of this e-procurement system, the entire process of procurement including procurement of goods and services as well as  awards of contracts for construction work  be carried out online. As per the decision made in the meeting all the provincial government departments will be required to carry out  all types of procurement under the e-procurement system from the beginning of next financialyear. Later on,  the e-procurement system will be extended to the autonomous bodies of the provincial government. The Chief Minister termed the e-procurement system  as an essential for ensuring maximum transparency in government contracts and procurement process, and said that it would help eliminate male practices in the award of  contracts and procurement process, and ultimately ensure quality of construction work.  He said that transparency and merit in all government affairs was the most important component of his government’s good governance strategy, and said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government not only believed in transparency but was taking serious steps for the purpose. He termed the new e-procurement system as a major initiative of the provincial government in this regard, and directed the concerned authorities to finalize all the preparations and requirements  for the  implementation of this system in all departments from the next financial year.  Briefing the meeting about the features of e-procurement system, it was informed that new system covers all types and methods of procurements having features of online registration and dashboard  facility for contractors, suppliers and consultants,  Online formation of Procurement Committees, Online preparation of Bid Data sheet,  creation of Bid Evaluation Criteria, Online Availability of Bidding Documents, Online submission of both technical and financial bids,  Online Submission Facility, Online Security Submission,  system based award of  contract to successful bidders and online registration of  complaints etc . Under the new e-procurement system, the entire process of awarding contracts and procurement will be rendered paperless,  and human interference will be minimised to the maximum possible level.