LAHORE - Punjab Chief Secretary Yousaf Naseem Khokhar on Wednesday directed the government departments to expedite pace of work on e-procurement project, saying that process of purchases in the government and semi-government departments would be made more easy and transparent through the online system.  He issued these directions while presiding over a meeting of the board of management of Punjab Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), at Civil Secretariat. Speaking at the meeting, the top bureaucrat said the PPRA must ensure transparency in procurement of government departments and Information Technology (IT) should be used for this purpose.  The meeting gave approval for making PPRA a financially autonomous institution and charging fees for provision of services. It was also decided to include secretaries of higher education, communication and works, energy and local government in the board of management because of quantum of procurement in these departments.  The meeting was attended by administrative secretaries of finance, planning and development, irrigation, managing director of PPRA, and other board members.