Under the federal government’s new frugality policy, only the President and the Chief Justice of Pakistan will be allowed to travel in first class.
This decision limits first-class travel privileges exclusively to the President and the Chief Justice. Other high-ranking officials, including the Prime Minister, Service Chiefs, the Senate Chairman, and the National Assembly Speaker, must now travel in business class.
Furthermore, federal ministers, members of parliament, secretaries, and other government officials are now restricted to economy class for all official travels. Additionally, all government-related air travel must be conducted through Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), and international trips for ministers, advisors, secretaries, and other officials will necessitate approval from the Prime Minister.
Grade 19 officers must obtain travel permissions from the relevant secretary for overseas trips, while Grade 20 officers will require consent from their respective ministers. The policy also explicitly prohibits government officials from undertaking official trips to Taiwan.
Moreover, members of parliament are barred from travelling abroad during parliamentary sessions. The policy also stipulates that no government official should stay in five-star hotels or bring any support staff on official international trips.
