ISLAMABAD, May 1: The government has decided to stop its officials from travelling abroad on airlines other than the PIA to avoid loss of foreign exchange.

Official sources told Dawn on Friday that the finance ministry would issue a notification next week to inform federal and provincial ministers and senior officials in government departments and the public sector corporations about this decision.

The federal government would not approve bills pertaining to purchase of tickets of airlines other than the PIA, the sources said.

The decision had been taken following reports that most of government functionaries were preferring foreign airlines while travelling abroad on official expenses. Besides, the sources said, the PIA was being told to improve its service.