Chief Adviser's Office has issued a directive discouraging foreign travel by government employees, effective from 9 December, according to a recently released circular.
The guidelines aim to limit non-essential trips and enhance accountability in overseas activities undertaken by public officials. Key provisions of the directive include:
General Disapproval of Foreign Travel: Officials are advised to avoid unnecessary foreign trips unless deemed absolutely essential for national interest.
Annual Travel List: Ministries are instructed to maintain an annual list of potential foreign trips to streamline approvals and budgeting.
Travel Database: A ministry-wise database for foreign travel must be developed, with its framework and information repository maintained by the Chief Adviser’s Office.
Avoidance of Joint Travel: Officials at all levels are to refrain from travelling abroad together. Specifically, advisors and secretaries of ministries are instructed not to travel simultaneously unless absolutely unavoidable, and such necessity must be clearly justified.
Restricting Key Personnel Travel: Secretaries and heads of subordinate departments or agencies are not to travel abroad together unless it pertains to the critical national interest.
Seminar/Workshop Participation: Proposals for participation in seminars or workshops abroad must specify the rank of the officials invited by the host organisation, along with details about the levels of officials from other participating countries.
Proposal Justification: Proposals for foreign trips must include details on the necessity of the trip and the relevance and utility of the proposed participant in the specific activity.
Technical Travel Only for Specialists: Visits for procurement, pre-shipment inspections, or factory acceptance tests should involve only relevant technical experts.
Avoiding Less Essential Expenditures: Foreign trips funded by government resources must focus on high-priority objectives, avoiding discretionary and entertainment-oriented travel.
Ban on Long-Term Educational Leave: Government employees are discouraged from taking extended educational leaves for overseas studies.
Past Travel Records: Any proposal for foreign travel must include a detailed account of the official’s travel history over the preceding year.
This directive underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring prudent use of public funds and prioritising national interests over non-essential expenditures.
