KEY POINTS
- Cabinet approves amendments to public procurement law
- Energy levy extended to captive power gas sales
- Cannabis regulatory policy cleared for pharma and textile sectors
- Visa clearance system approved to facilitate overseas travel
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal cabinet on Tuesday approved major changes to the country’s public procurement framework, signalling a push to modernise governance and improve transparency in state spending and regulation.
Chairing the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif secured in-principle cabinet approval for amendments to the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority Ordinance 2002.
The proposed changes aim to align public tendering and procurement processes with modern requirements, strengthen oversight, enhance transparency and improve efficiency in government contracting.
Public procurement reform has long been a focus of international financial institutions and development partners, which view weak tendering systems as a source of fiscal leakage and governance risk.
Officials say the amendments aim to bring Pakistan’s procurement practices closer to international standards.
The cabinet also approved, based on the Petroleum Division’s recommendation, extending the Off-Grid Power Plants Levy Act 2025 to gas sales to third-party captive power plants.
This move is part of larger efforts to rationalise energy consumption and tackle structural inefficiencies in the power and gas sectors.
In another significant regulatory decision, Pakistan’s top decision-making body cleared the National Cannabis Control and Regulatory Policy 2025.
The policy seeks to promote the regulated use of cannabis-based plants in the pharmaceutical and textile sectors, with officials citing potential export growth and value addition under a controlled legal framework.
The cabinet also approved a new visa clearance system proposed by the interior ministry to facilitate overseas travel for Pakistani citizens through a more transparent and secure process.
A committee was also formed to improve consultation on private members’ bills and other legislation in the National Assembly.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister reiterated the government’s stated position on engaging political parties through peaceful dialogue for national development, and warned that any attempt to undermine law and order would not be tolerated.
PIA’s privatisation was discussed as part of the government’s broader reform agenda, with the prime minister reaffirming that steps were being taken to ensure a transparent and credible process for the national carrier’s divestiture.
The cabinet ratified decisions earlier by the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases and the Economic Coordination Committee, and concluded with congratulations to the nation on Pakistan’s Under-19 Cricket Championship victory.
