ISLAMABAD (October 24 2009): The Foreign Office has imposed ban on the meetings of diplomats with the ministers and other government officials without prior permission. Sources said the Foreign Office had written to all the embassies and high commissions to abstain from arranging direct meetings of foreign dignitaries with the ministers and other government officials without obtaining permission.

The Foreign Office had taken this step after frequent meetings of Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin and Interior Minister Rehman Malik with some diplomats of the United Kingdom and the United States during the last couple of months. According to the rules, it is mandatory for diplomats to get prior permission for holding meeting with any government official and even the Foreign Office's permission is pre-requisite for meetings with the President and Prime Minister.

The sources in the Foreign Office said that some influential embassies and high commissions often violated the rules, and directly met the ministers and other officials. This was the main reason, the sources said, the Foreign Office had to again send reminders to the foreign missions.

The sources, however, said there was no rule for diplomats to hold meetings with the people of private sector. Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit confirmed the development, but avoided disclosing details. He said that every country had its own rules and regulations and Pakistan had its own. "It is our responsibility to keep them informed about the rules and regulations," he added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2009