Punjab Government Makes Approval Mandatory for Sarpanches and Panch Members to Travel Abroad

The Punjab government has introduced a new policy requiring village sarpanches and panchayat members to obtain official approval before travelling abroad. The Rural Development and Panchayats Department has circulated instructions to all District Development and Panchayat Officers as well as Additional Deputy Commissioners across the state to ensure implementation.

According to the directive, many elected representatives from panchayati raj institutions often travel overseas for personal reasons, which can delay or disrupt ongoing development work in villages. To prevent such administrative slowdowns, the government has made prior permission from the competent authority mandatory for any foreign travel.

Punjab currently has 13,238 sarpanches and 83,437 panchayat members. Officials say the measure aims to ensure that local governance and public service delivery remain unaffected while maintaining accountability among elected rural representatives.