ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has barred all government servants from using social media without prior permission to prevent disclosure of official information and documents.
Pakistan’s Establishment Division has issued a directive restricting government employees from using social media without prior authorization to prevent the leakage of official information and documents.
In an office memorandum released on Tuesday, the government bound employees to abide by the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1964. Under these new guidelines, government employees are prohibited from using any social media platform without explicit permission.
The memorandum stipulates that government employees must refrain from expressing opinions or sharing information that could damage the government’s reputation. They are also barred from criticizing government policies, decisions, national sovereignty, or dignity.
Public servants are prohibited from sharing their personal views or engaging in rhetorical discussions on social media without authorization. The memorandum warns that violations will result in strict disciplinary action.
Furthermore, employees are not permitted to disclose official documents or information to unauthorized individuals and must avoid making statements to the media that could harm international relations.
The memorandum clarifies that these guidelines are not meant to discourage the positive use of social media. Instead, they are intended to regulate its use to prevent misuse.
The memorandum also calls for institutions to oversee their social media platforms to ensure the removal of inappropriate content.
All government servants, regardless of their service or group, must comply with these instructions. Non-compliance may result in misconduct proceedings. Federal secretaries, additional secretaries, department heads, and chief secretaries are tasked with enforcing these guidelines.
