Chandigarh: Amidst the ongoing tensions in Central Asia and the East, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed for a reduction in government expenditure. A clear impact of this appeal is now becoming visible in Haryana. The Haryana government has begun taking several major decisions to rein in unnecessary expenses.

In line with this initiative, the Nayab-led government has imposed a partial ban on foreign tours by government officials and employees. Consequently, no decisions are currently being taken regarding files pertaining to foreign tours that are submitted to the ministers. According to sources, detailed guidelines regarding this matter are being drafted by the government. Once these guidelines come into effect, foreign travel will be permitted only in cases of extreme necessity or under special circumstances. Vipul Goyal, the Minister for Urban Local Bodies, was scheduled to visit Japan in connection with the International Gita Festival; however, this tour was cancelled due to the government's new austerity policy. Minister Vipul Goyal himself confirmed this development.

Reports suggest that several other individuals within the Chief Minister's Office had also applied for foreign travel, but Chief Minister Nayab Saini did not grant them approval. Furthermore, within the departments overseen by Labor and Energy Minister Anil Vij, some officials and employees had sought permission to travel abroad at their own personal expense; however, they, too, were denied approval at the departmental level. A decision on these matters will now be taken only after the guidelines are issued by the Chief Secretary.