The Interior Ministry on Tuesday announced that any official delegation with more than three members embarking on a foreign visit will now have to acquire permission of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Federal secretary and a respective minister will be authorised for initial approval of foreign visits for officials, before they were sent to the prime minister for final approval.
Officers from grade 20 to 22 will be entitled to visit a foreign country for official purpose.
Finance Division and the Foreign Affairs Division have been directed to send the prime minister details of foreign visits of a delegation having more than three members.
While delegations which are due to visit the United Nations or attend meetings of financial institutions abroad will be required to first obtain a no objection certificate.
In October last year, PM Khan had placed restrictions on foreign trips of the government officers.
He had taken this decision in pursuance of his government’s policy of adopting austerity measures.
The PTI government had also banned the discretionary use of state funds and first-class air travel by officials and leaders, including the president and the prime minister on August 25.
“It has been decided that all the top government officials, including the president, prime minister, chief justice, senate chairman, speaker national assembly and the chief ministers will travel in club/business,” Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary had told the media.
