ISLAMABAD: The federal government has formulated a new policy on the foreign visits of ministers and public servants.
Under the new policy, the ministers and government officers will not be entitled to staying in five-star hotels abroad which has been a routine so far. They will also be not allowed to take along any support staff on government expense.
If not an emergency, the minister or a government officer will have to take permission for the foreign visit from the austerity committee recently formed by the prime minister. Moreover, a minister and the secretary of a department cannot go on a foreign visit together.
According to the policy, ministers, ministers of state, advisers and special assistant will be entitled to three foreign visits abroad in a year however the foreign minister and finance minister will be exempted from this limit.
PIA will be the first priority for air travel abroad while visit to India will require permission from the ministry of foreign affairs and interior ministry.
Superficial measures. Will hardly make any difference. Radical austerity measures need to be taken to make any effect.