Punjab procurement agencies can use govt e-marketplace

The Punjab Cabinet today gave nod to state procurement agencies to use the central government's portal Government e-Marketplace (GeM) for direct online purchases of goods and services.
The decision was taken by the Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, on a proposal of the finance department, said an official release.
An official spokesperson said that the procurement of common use goods and services by government buyers under the Central GeM, launched by Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D), would help the state improve transparency into the system, while facilitating online procurement of common use Goods and Services.

The Cabinet also gave a go-ahead to issue a notification in this regard after amending the Punjab Financial Rules, Volume II, following which the Rules would be now called the Punjab Financial (Amendment) Rules, Volume II, 2017. Subsequently, in Appendix 8 after rule 7, Rule 7-A has been inserted.