By Anzal Amin
ISLAMABAD: The Cabinet Division set in motion on Monday the federal government’s austerity policy, detailing measures for foreign visits of government officials.
The officials were encouraged to opt for teleconferencing over in-person foreign visits whenever possible, with a strict prohibition on staying in five-star accommodations.
Approval for official visits by federal ministers, advisors, and others must be sought from the PM’s office, according to the policy.
The policy also imposes a ban on simultaneous foreign trips by ministers and secretaries, except under unavoidable circumstances.
Additionally, officials of grade 20 or above must obtain permission from the relevant office, the policy maintains. All pertinent details of foreign trips are to be furnished to the Ministry of External Affairs within 15 days.
Exceptions to these regulations include the ministries of foreign affairs and commerce, which are exempted from certain restrictions related to attending international conferences.
The cabinet session on Monday also outlined the travel entitlements; the president and chief justice eligible for first-class travel facilities, while the PM, senate chairman, speaker of the national assembly, foreign minister, and federal ministers are entitled to business class accommodations.
In February, the federal government constituted a monitoring committee to oversee the implementation of austerity measures – administered by PM Shehbaz Sharif – in a bid to cut the government’s expenses.
The highlight of the austerity measures is the withdrawal of salaries and perks of the prime minister, ministers, special assistants and advisers along with a 15% cut in the expenses of all government departments.
