ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel on Tuesday barred all Pakistani foreign missions from cash payment for procurement of office material, and also directed to observe the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) in such procurements.

Taking notice of procurement on cash without open tenders by Pakistani missions abroad, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)'s sub-committee directed Secretary Foreign Affairs Sohail Mahmood to abandon this practice and make payment to venders through cheques or bank transfer, so that record could be maintained for audit purposes. The committee overruled the secretary's arguments that payment through cheque was a long process and local venders did not wait so long.

He further argued that to invite open tenders and following PPRA rules were challenging for the missions abroad.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020