In FY25, government employees still restricted from traveling abroad and buying new cars

The Ministry of Finance will extend restrictions on foreign travel and new car purchases for government employees in the fiscal year 2024-25, as part of continued austerity measures. A formal notification will be issued in July, detailing limits on honoraria for construction, land acquisition, and meetings. Exceptions include essential foreign travel and training funded by external sources. Despite the travel ban, officials may travel for quality inspections of goods and services. The purchase committee approved 261 cars for specific officers, despite the general ban. Restrictions on expenditures for petrol, oil, and electricity will be lifted due to rising costs. The austerity measures, introduced during the pandemic and exacerbated by the Ukraine-Russia war, have led to significant savings. The upcoming budget also reflects a reduction in investment allocations.