In a bid to prevent leaks of official information, the Pakistani government has banned all government employees from using social media platforms.
According to a notification from the Establishment Division dated September 2, no government servant can engage in any social media activity without explicit government permission.
Penalties for Violations:
- Misconduct Charges: Violations of these new restrictions are considered misconduct under the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2020. This includes unauthorized sharing of official information or documents.
- Disciplinary Action: Government employees found in breach of these guidelines will face disciplinary action. This includes those managing social media groups where violations occur.
- Restrictions on Statements: Government employees are prohibited from making statements that could embarrass the government or harm national security, public order, or international relations. Such breaches could lead to serious consequences, including contempt of court or defamation charges.
- Monitoring and Enforcement: Federal agencies are required to monitor their social media platforms and remove any objectionable content. Failure to comply with these directives will also result in disciplinary proceedings.
The notification emphasizes that these measures follow a similar ban imposed during the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government. Federal secretaries, additional secretaries, department heads, and chief secretaries are responsible for enforcing these new guidelines.
