The Cabinet Division on Monday set in motion the federal government’s austerity policy, which details arrangements for foreign visits by government officials.
Officials have been urged to opt for teleconferencing on personal foreign visits whenever possible, with a strict ban on staying in five-star accommodation.
Approval for official visits by federal ministers, advisers and others must be sought from the Prime Minister’s Office, according to the policy.
The policy also imposes a ban on concurrent foreign travel by ministers and secretaries, except in unavoidable circumstances.
Besides, officials of grade 20 or above must obtain permission from the relevant authority, the policy said. All details of foreign trips must be communicated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within 15 days.
Exceptions to these regulations include the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which are exempt from certain restrictions related to participation in international conferences.
Monday’s cabinet meeting also outlined travel entitlements; the president and chief justice are entitled to first-class travel facilities, while the prime minister, president of the senate, speaker of the national assembly, foreign secretary and federal ministers are entitled to business class accommodation.
In February, the federal government set up a monitoring committee to oversee the implementation of austerity measures – administered by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif – in a bid to reduce government spending.
The highlight of the austerity measures is the removal of salaries and benefits from the prime minister, ministers, special assistants and advisers, along with a 15% reduction in the spending of all ministries.
