Govt officials to require clearance for foreign trips: FO

In a bid to reduce public expenditures, government officials will not be allowed foreigns visits without clearance.

ISLAMABAD: Federal and Provincial Ministers will not be allowed foreign visits without the formal permission of the Foreign Office.

Provincial and federal ministers as well as senior government officials will now be required to get foreign visits cleared by the Foreign Office before making their trips.

The new policy is part of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s austerity drive, which is seeking to create greater efficiency in government by reducing public expenditures.

Furthermore, the concerned individuals will also be required to pay for their own accommodation and also share the details of their trip with the finance ministry.

The decision by the Foreign Office comes after the National Assembly seeked details of foreign trips by ambassadors on Monday.

It was revealed that three ambassadors-at-large had made 43 trips to different countries. Ambassador-at-large Nasir Ali Khan set a new record of foreign trips, undertaking as many as 30 tours of 25 countries in 24 months.