The Chief Adviser’s Office has imposed a ban on foreign travel by government officials and employees until the upcoming national parliamentary elections are held, except for cases deemed absolutely essential. The directive was issued in a circular on October 21.
According to the circular, many officials continue to travel abroad without properly following previously issued restrictions on official foreign trips. In some cases, multiple officials from the same ministry — including responsible advisers and secretaries — have traveled abroad at the same time, which violates government guidelines.
In this context, the Chief Adviser’s Office has instructed that all foreign travel be strictly limited until the election is completed. Only trips that are absolutely necessary and in the “national interest” will be approved.
The directive has been sent to senior secretaries and secretaries of all ministries and divisions.
Earlier, the government had restricted foreign travel due to a shortage of U.S. dollars. A similar circular was also issued last year discouraging government officials from traveling abroad.
The earlier directive included 13 specific guidelines, which have been reiterated. These include:
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Foreign travel will generally be discouraged.
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A list of all potential foreign trips for the year must be maintained.
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Each ministry must develop a database for foreign trips, to be structured and maintained by the Chief Adviser’s Office.
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Officials at all levels should avoid traveling abroad simultaneously.
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Advisers and secretaries of a ministry should not travel abroad together unless it is absolutely necessary in the national interest, and such necessity must be clearly justified.
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Ministry secretaries and heads of departments or agencies should not undertake joint foreign trips except for essential national interests.
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For seminars or workshops abroad, proposals must include information on the invitation authority, the rank of invited officials, and the ranks of participants from other countries.
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All travel proposals must specify the necessity of the trip and the relevance of the proposed official’s participation.
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Only technical experts directly involved should be sent for procurement-related visits, pre-shipment inspections, or factory acceptance tests.
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Unnecessary official trips funded by the government must be avoided.
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Entertainment or recreational foreign travel by officials is strictly prohibited.
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Officials are advised to avoid long-term study leave abroad.
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All proposals for foreign travel must include details of the official’s international travel over the past year.
The Chief Adviser’s Office stated that the move aims to maintain administrative discipline and ensure full focus on national responsibilities ahead of the election.