ISLAMABAD, May 31: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has expressed his concern over the increasing number of foreign visits of government officials on frivolous and self-serving grounds, Dawn has learnt.

The prime minister, sources said, had restricted senior government officials from joy-ride trips on national expenditure and called for fulfilling well-defined criteria for foreign visits that were allowed only to serve national interest.

The sources said the prime minister was flabbergasted to know that the criteria for visits abroad was not being followed while preparing summaries for the Prime Minister Secretariat.

A directive, issued by the cabinet division last week, said the instructions on visits abroad underlined by the cabinet division on February 19, 2003, inter-alia, required that visits of ministers and other delegations be well-planned and made only if essential.

Mr Jamali had, therefore, been pleased to direct that foreign visits by ministers/civil servants should not be taken on frivolous and insufficient grounds and be fully justified especially where government funds were involved, the directive said.

The prime minister had observed that in future serious notice would be taken regarding proposals for visits abroad which were not warranted in public interest, the directive added.

Mr Jamali further directed that summaries should invariably be moved by the secretary of the ministry/division concerned with the approval of the minister in charge as required under Rule 15 (2) of the Rules of Business, 1973.

It is accordingly requested that foreign visits by the ministers or civil servants should be undertaken if they meet the above criteria. It is therefore, suggested that summaries seeking orders of the prime minister should specifically highlight the extent of national interest involved and benefits likely to accrue to the country for undertaking the said visit, the directive said.

The letter has been sent to all ministries/divisions under the tag of 'most immediate' and the quarters concerned are asked to implement on it in true letter and spirit.