Blanket ban on employees' foreign tours

Now a virtual blanket ban comes on foreign tours of employees of state-owned, semi government and autonomous bodies and financial institutions as the government tightens belt to save forex reserves.
Under the binding order, they cannot even go on trips abroad by spending from the institutions' own funds.
The measure is part of government's efforts to curb foreign- currency spending amid quick depletion of reserves due to high import bills and impacts of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war in the world's major supply zone for energy and basic products.
Earlier on May 12 the government had temporality banned unnecessary foreign tours for its employees as an austerity measure to contain foreign-currency spending.
Issuing a notification on the day the ministry of finance cited the post-pandemic economic recovery and present global crisis as the reasons for the measure.
"… all types of exposure visit/study tour/ travel under APA and innovation and participation in workshop/seminar will remain suspended until a new order is issued," the notification mentioned.
This order was issued for banning foreign tours by spending money from both development-and operating-budget allocations.
Earlier, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal told newsmen that spending foreign currency would be curbed to effectively manage the present moment.
He said the Prime Minister had ordered not to allow any more foreign trips for public servants unless necessary.
The government had also ordered various austerity measures which include curbing unnecessary imports and deferring execution of less- important development projects.

syful-islam@outlook.com