PPRA Board Approves Cloud Procurement Framework in Pakistan

Pakistan’s Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) board made a crucial step in implementing the country’s Cloud First Policy. PPRA has given the green light to Cloud Procurement Framework (CPF) in Pakistan. The procurement framework was approved after several consultations with stakeholders and state agencies including the Ministry of IT and Telecom. The CPF aims to set the groundwork for adopting cloud services within the country. Sources claim that the Ministry of IT and Telecom will issue the official notification for the framework soon.

PPRA Board Approves CPF in Pakistan

The implementation of this framework has become possible due to the joint efforts of both the Ministry of IT & Telecom and the PPRA.  The collaborative efforts traversed several months of painstaking preparation and deliberation to embark on this milestone. It is pertinent to mention here that the establishment of an interim cloud office within the Ministry of IT and Telecom played a significant role in this journey. It helped in steering discussions and advocating a regulatory framework facilitative to cloud service procurement.

Pakistan’s Cloud First Policy was endorsed by the government in February 2022. It highlights the nation’s commitment to leveraging cloud technology for socio-economic advancement. When the interim cloud office was established by Member IT Syed Junaid Imam, efforts toward recognizing the policy’s objectives gained momentum. Recently, the Cabinet Division has approved the construction of a permanent cloud office. Pakistan aims to fortify its institutional framework to effectively execute the Cloud First Policy.

According to the sources, the key positions within the permanent cloud office will include Director General Cloud, Director Cloud Adoption, Director Legal and Procurement, Director Audits, and Director Infrastructure and Operations. They will play a significant role in orchestrating the seamless integration of cloud technology across government operations.