How government tenders work in Pakistan (PPRA, EPADS and the 2026 rules)

Who buys, and under which rules

Public buying in Pakistan is split by level of government.

Federal. Ministries, divisions, attached departments, federal authorities and state-owned companies follow the federal rules, overseen by the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA). On 28 September 2026 the government notified the Public Procurement Rules, 2026 (S.R.O. 1658(I)/2026). They came into force immediately and repealed the Public Procurement Rules, 2004.

Provincial. Each province has its own procurement authority and rules. In Sindh, the Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (SPPRA) has moved provincial departments onto a Sindh version of EPADS. Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have their own authorities. A provincial tender notice states which rules and which portal apply.

Defence. Purchases for the armed forces are made through bodies such as the Directorate General Defence Purchase and the services' own procurement and engineering directorates. Many require a firm to be registered with the buying organisation before it can bid.

EPADS: one system for federal buying

Under rule 8 of the 2026 rules, federal procuring agencies "shall carry out public procurement" through EPADS, the e-Pak Acquisition and Disposal System. Tenders are published there, bids are submitted there, bids are opened there, and the evaluation report is sent to every bidder through it.

For a supplier, that means three things:

1. Register as a vendor on EPADS before you want to bid, not on the closing day. Registration and the vendor profile are done online through PPRA's system.
2. Have your papers ready. Typical requirements are business registration (an SECP certificate or a registered partnership deed), a tax number and, where your goods need it, sales tax registration. Many tenders also require bidders to be on FBR's Active Taxpayers List, and ask for financial statements, past contracts and references.
3. Watch EPADS for notices. Opportunities over Rs 200,000 are published on EPADS and PPRA's website. Those over Rs 5 million also appear in national newspapers.

How a tender runs

1. The notice

The procuring agency publishes the tender with the bidding documents: what is being bought, the specification, the method, the deadline, the bid security and the evaluation criteria. For national competitive bidding the response time must be at least 10 days from publication on EPADS, and 20 days for international bidding. Some commodities listed in the rules, such as fuel and grains, have shorter minimums.

2. The method

The 2026 rules set out the familiar open competitive procedures:

• Single stage, one envelope. Bids include the financial proposal and, if required, the technical proposal, and are opened and evaluated together as the bidding documents set out.
• Single stage, two envelope. The technical proposal is opened and evaluated first. Only bids that pass have their financial proposals opened.
• Two stage. For large or complex purchases, bidders first submit technical proposals without prices, which are evaluated and discussed, then submit revised technical proposals with prices.

For small purchases the rules allow simpler methods. Below Rs 200,000 an agency may buy without requesting quotations. Between Rs 200,000 and Rs 700,000 it requests quotations, needs at least three, and buys from the lowest price. Direct contracting is allowed only in specific cases, such as spare parts from the original manufacturer.

3. Bid security

The agency may ask for bid security of up to 5% of the estimated value for procurements up to Rs 250 million, and up to 2% above that. Where it does not ask for security, bidders submit a bid security declaration in the format in the standard bidding documents. Bid security is usually forfeited if a bidder withdraws after the deadline or refuses a contract it has won.

4. Submission and opening

Bids are submitted on EPADS before the deadline. The last date for submission and the date of opening are the same, and bids are opened through EPADS at least 30 minutes after the deadline. For very large purchases, over Rs 500 million for goods and services or Rs 1,000 million for works, the opening must be broadcast live.

5. Evaluation and award

Bids are evaluated against the criteria in the bidding documents. The evaluation report is sent to all bidders through EPADS and published on PPRA's website. The successful bidder receives a letter of award, may have to provide a performance guarantee, and signs the contract.

6. Complaints

Complaints are heard by a Grievance Redressal Committee set up by the procuring agency, made up of members from outside the agency. A complaint about the eligibility rules, evaluation criteria or other terms in the bidding documents can be filed up to two days before the submission deadline. Bidders who object to the evaluation can complain within the period the rules set after the evaluation report is issued.

What wins tenders

• Read the bidding documents twice. Most rejections are for missing documents, wrong formats or unsigned forms, not price.
• Match the specification exactly, and say so clearly. Evaluators check compliance line by line.
• Arrange bid security early. Bank guarantees take time.
• Ask questions in time. Clarifications go through the procuring agency before the deadline.
• Price for delivery, not just for the bid. Import duties, freight, exchange rates and payment timing all land on the supplier after award.

How Mastoor Corporation fits in

Mastoor Corporation is the procurement and trading arm of Mastoor Group. We prepare compliant bids for government, military and public-sector tenders and deliver against them, with import, customs clearing and logistics handled in-house. Our clients include the Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force, FWO, Karachi Port Trust, NHA, the Central Ordnance Depot and the Government of Sindh.

This guide summarises the federal rules for general information. It is not legal advice. The rules and the bidding documents for each tender always take precedence.