Bureaucrats defy ban on foreign visits

Published November 3, 2014
PTDC high-ups head to China a day after govt bans official trips abroad - File photo
PTDC high-ups head to China a day after govt bans official trips abroad - File photo

ISLAMABAD: Although Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has imposed a fresh ban on foreign visits by government officials, the government seems willing to relax the restriction in the case of certain bureaucrats, who have proceeded abroad on trips paid for by the exchequer over the past few days.

In 2013, the PML-N had imposed a similar ban on foreign visits by government officials during its first days in office. But despite the restriction, several government officials travelled abroad officially.

On October 27, a fresh circular re-imposed the ban as part of austerity measures to cut government’ spending on non-development heads.

Sources in the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) told Dawn that Managing Director Chaudhry Kabir left for China for a week-long official visit a day after the PM promulgated the fresh ban.


PTDC high-ups head to China a day after govt bans official trips abroad


Mr Kabir’s trip to China was paid for by funds generated by the Flashman’s Hotel in Rawalpindi, which is a PTDC concern. The corporation is bearing an expenditure of over Rs500,000 to cover the MD’s travel expenses at a time when employees of the cash-strapped department have not been receiving their monthly wages on time.

Another senior PTDC official, acting Manager Publicity & Promotion Rana Mukhtar also proceeded to China on October 28. The two officials’ visits, though unconnected, may have to do with recent government efforts to privatise the fledgling corporation.

Another senior government official, Arshad Mirza, who is an additional secretary at the petroleum ministry, recently returned from an official visit to the US.

These violations of rules did not come as a surprise to many observers, who say that the PM’s own multi-million dollar trips abroad have already put an immense burden on the national kitty.

Indeed, the PM’s visits in three months to Turkey, the United States, United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Afghanistan have so far cost the government around Rs168 million.

The Lahore High Court is currently hearing a petition challenging the PM’s foreign tours.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2014

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