ISLAMABAD, May 14: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in combating bid rigging, collusive tendering, and other anti-competitive practices in public procurement.
The MoU was signed at a formal ceremony held at CCP’s Head Office by Ms. Marryum Pervaiz, Secretary to the Commission, and Mr. Muhammad Tahir, Director General Operations NAB. Chairman CCP, Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu, and Chairman NAB, Lieutenant General (Retd.) Nazir Ahmed Butt, witnessed the signing, along with senior officials from both organizations.
The agreement sets a framework for joint efforts in information sharing, investigation, and technical collaboration. It includes mutual support in capacity-building, data access, identification of risk patterns, and enforcement strategies.
Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu noted that while the federal PSDP for 2023–24 stood at Rs. 1,100 billion, provincial Annual Development Plans totaled around Rs. 1.559 trillion. Despite PPRA’s e-procurement system (EPADS), there is no robust mechanism to ensure transparency in public sector bidding, underscoring the need for regular monitoring of collusive practices.
He shared that CCP has developed advanced software to analyze large datasets and detect patterns of bid rigging and collusion. Dr. Sidhu also highlighted that accountability laws require criminal standards of proof, while the Competition Act operates on a civil standard. He stressed that inter-agency information sharing can boost deterrence and enable smarter enforcement.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Chairman NAB, Lieutenant General (Retd.) Nazir Ahmed Butt, commended Chairman CCP Dr. Kabir Ahmed Sidhu for initiating institutional collaboration. He stressed that corruption and collusive practices in public procurement are draining national resources and must be tackled with urgency. He noted that NAB can benefit from CCP’s expertise in data analysis to detect cartelization, calling such practices “mega crimes” against the economy.
He reaffirmed the shared responsibility of both organizations to combat collusion and corruption and expressed confidence that the MoU would enhance their enforcement effectiveness.
