PS, APS of advisers, secretaries not to accompany them on foreign trips

The Chief Adviser's Office (CAO) has announced a prohibition on the personal secretaries and assistant personal secretaries of advisers and secretaries of the government from accompanying the later during foreign trips.

The announcement was made in a letter sent from CAO to all the secretaries of the government on 19 March.

"The personal secretaries and assistant personal secretaries of advisers and secretaries of the government are being requested to refrain from making foreign trips accompanying the later without mandatory or very important reasons," the letter reads.

Earlier on 9 December, the CAO had issued a circular giving various directions on the foreign travel of government officials.

Asking all government officials to abide by some rules, the circular had said foreign trips would be discouraged generally.

In the circular, the government asked its officials to provide a possible list of foreign trips throughout the year, while they also said a ministerial database for foreign trips would be created, the structure of which will be built and maintained by the CAO.

In the circular, the government also asked all of its officials to avoid foreign trips altogether.

The circular added that the adviser and secretary of a ministry will avoid going on foreign trips together.

However, they must clearly inform if such a trip is needed for the national interest, the circular added.

The circular further said the secretary of a ministry and the chiefs of the departments and agencies under the ministry's jurisdiction must not go on foreign trips together.

Regarding seminars and workshops held abroad, the advisers and secretaries must inform the government which level of government officials from home and abroad have been invited to the events, the circular further said.

In the circular, the government asked its officials to clarify the importance of a said foreign trip and the significance of an official's participation in it.

The circular also directed government officials to consider sending related specialists only in case of buying, pre-shipment inspection and factory acceptance tests.

Asking government officials of all levels to avoid recreational foreign trips, the government also directed them to refrain from going on lengthy study leaves.

In the circular, the government also asked its officials to submit a record of their foreign trips for the previous year if they wish to go on a new trip.

The Finance Division had also issued a circular at the start of the current fiscal year discouraging foreign trips to lessen the expenses of the government and bring stability in the foreign currency market in the backdrop of the economic situation of the country.