With just 11 days remaining until the much-anticipated general elections on February 8, interim Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar has introduced a comprehensive ban on foreign travel for government officials, reliable sources reveal.
This prohibition encompasses both official and personal visits and is slated to persist until the culmination of the electoral proceedings. Its scope extends across the spectrum of government personnel, encapsulating federal ministers, employees of attached departments, and individuals associated with autonomous bodies.
In a bid to enforce this directive, all federal secretaries have been explicitly directed to rescind any previously granted permissions for foreign visits, regardless of whether such authorizations were issued by them directly or by the ministers overseeing their respective departments.
The electoral landscape is currently ablaze with political fervor as leaders from major parties intensify their campaign efforts, addressing enthusiastic crowds in rallies held across the nation on a daily basis.
Tasked with ensuring a level playing field and impartial conduct, the interim government, which conventionally operates for a 90-day period, has been in office since August. This extended tenure is a result of the electoral postponement necessitated by the imperative for fresh delimitations.
As the nation hurtles towards the polling day, the ban on foreign visits stands as a testament to the government’s commitment to maintaining focus on the impending electoral process, demonstrating a dedication to fair and transparent proceedings in the final stretch of electoral preparations.
