KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 20

The federal government has restricted the wilful foreign visits of office-bearers and employees of provincial and local governments.

The restriction follows the tendency of making foreign trips at the invitation of individuals, going abroad for programmes organised and sponsored by non-governmental organisations, and embarking on trips for programmes outside the jurisdiction of office-bearers and employees.

In this regard, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has written to all seven provincial offices, directing them not to approve foreign visits of any office-bearer or employees who receive invitation at the individual level.

'We request you to reject foreign visits of any office-bearer or employee of provincial or local governments if he/she is categorically invited by an organisation under his/her name,' the letter reads. The OMPCM also told the provincial offices not to nominate any office-bearer and employee for his/her visit to a foreign country to participate in a programme organised by local NGOs of the country concerned. However, approval may be granted to participate in a programme sponsored by countries with which Nepal has established diplomatic relations, international organisations/institutions to which Nepal is a member, United Nations and international NGOs working under the UN agencies.

Likewise, the provincial offices have been directed to verify the authenticity of invitation and foreign organisations before nominating the office-bearers and employees for foreign visit. It also requires the provincial offices to obtain consent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for approval of the visit. According to the foreign visit procedure implemented by the federal government, if any local level or province receives a formal invitation from a host country or agency for participation in a training and exposure visit and all expenses will have to be borne by the concerned foreign country, donor agency or international organisation.

A version of this article appears in the print on September 21, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.