LAHORE: The Punjab government on Tuesday banned the use and sale of camera-enabled smart glasses and miniature cameras “disguised as everyday objects” for 30 days.
A notification to this effect by the Punjab home department secretary said, “No person shall wear or operate camera-enabled smart glasses with hidden recording ability or miniature cameras with recording ability disguised as everyday objects such as pen, keychain, etc.”, adding that the restriction excluded laptops, handheld tablets, mobile phones and terminal equipment approved by the Pakistan Telecomm-unication Authority (PTA).
In addition, the government restricted retailers, wholesale dealers, traders and distributors from selling or offering these devices for sale, online or off the shelf. The order said that it had been reported that the unrestricted use of these glasses and disguised cameras — capable of capturing, processing and transmitting data in the form of speech, images, videos and sound — in Punjab could pose a serious risk to public order, individual privacy, particularly the integrity and dignity of women and children; security of sensitive data and installations; and institutional integrity.
It named airports, examination centres, secure government establishments, healthcare facilities, shopping malls, court premises and public places as particular areas of risk.
The order also noted that the use of such devices was deemed to “create an imminent apprehension of secret recording, breach of privacy and security, or unauthorised transmission of protected information”.
The order said the ban was being enforced with immediate effect and would remain in force for a period of 30 days unless withdrawn earlier. It was also specified that authorised law enforcement personnel would be exempt from the restriction.
The ban comes a day after the Punjab government announced its plan to impose the restriction.
Amid concerns about the misuse of such devices, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has also been moved challenging the unregulated import and sale of camera and mic-equipped smart glasses, citing threats to people’s privacy, dignity and national security.
Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2026
