ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has reportedly restricted number of foreign trips of members of federal cabinet, excluding foreign and trade ministers, to three per year in pursuance of the austerity drive adopted by his government.
A private media outlet quoting sources said on Saturday that all members of the federal cabinet including federal and state ministers, advisers and special assistants to the premier have been directed to use the national flag carrier PIA for their foreign visits.
The directive, to be imposed with immediate effect, also restricts the cabinet members to take their personal staff along in the tours.
However, they will be able to use services of the staff stationed at all international missions of Pakistan.
After coming into power, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had announced to adopt a more austere attitude towards public funds and announced auctioning luxury cars including bulletproof vehicles parked at the PM House, as well as eight buffaloes kept at the premises.
PM Khan, however, has quashed his government’s own austerity claims by travelling in special aircraft on multiple occasions. It was decided that the premier will not use special planes for foreign tours.
Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had announced that the prime minister would surrender his entitlement to first-class travel tickets for international tours.
