PM directs ministers to slash visits abroad

KATHMANDU, Oct 10: At a time when half a dozen government ministers and secretaries are traveling abroad on various state invitations, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has directed all cabinet ministers to drastically reduce their foreign visits and not to include secretaries on such trips unless absolutely necessary. [break]

PM Nepal has warned ministers and government secretaries to sincerely abide by his instructions or be ready to face action.

According to Law and Justice Minister Prem Bahadur Singh, the prime minister two days ago directed ministers to include joint secretaries and under secretaries instead of secretaries in essential programs abroad.

PM directs ministers to reduce foreign visits

Two secretaries´ trips canceled

Ministers asked to include joint secretaries instead of secretaries on official visits

Ministers to attend only vital events

Ministers, officials asked not to incur huge expenses on visits

“Ministry activities are severely affected due to the absence of the minister and the secretary at the same time,” Minister Singh said quoting the PM. He also quoted the PM as saying, “I, therefore, urge all of you to cancel your foreign visits including that of your respective secretaries.”

A source said that the PM turned down two secretaries who sought approval for visits abroad recently. “The PM rejected proposals submitted by Secretaries Shankar Koirala and Shyam Mainal seeking approval for international visits,” the source told myrepublica.com. Koirala and Mainali were seeking approval for visits to the Netherlands and Finland respectively.

The PM likewise instructed the ministers to avoid insignificant foreign visits. “Don´t run after international visits, leaving ministry activities unsolved and chaotic,” the PM said to the ministers.

Singh said the PM warned them not to remain absent for long if they are not attending any urgent or vital event. “I first direct you to avoid international visits. But if the events are essential and if you have to be there, don´t stay for too long,” Singh said quoting the PM.

“We have to discourage the rising trend of such visits,” Minister Singh said quoting the PM.

A source said the PM also directed ministers not to incur huge expenses on the pretext of international visits. “He urged them to be economical while visiting abroad,” the source added.

He warned them not to forward any proposal to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers seeking approval for visits abroad unless those visits are essential. He instructed ministers to first assess the nature of the invitations and then decide. “Don´t accept every invitation without assessing the significance of the event,” the PM directed them.