Punjab bans camera smart glasses and spy pens for 30 days: what's allowed and what's not

If you own a pair of camera smart glasses in Punjab, the provincial government now says you cannot wear or use them in public. A notification from the Punjab home department, dated October 22, bans the use and sale of camera-enabled smart glasses and miniature cameras hidden inside everyday objects for 30 days, with immediate effect, Dawn reported.

The order came three days after the Punjab cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, approved the idea on October 19.

What exactly is banned?

According to the notification as quoted by Dawn, “no person shall wear or operate camera-enabled smart glasses with hidden recording ability”. The ban also covers small cameras disguised as ordinary things such as pens and keychains. Earlier government statements, reported by Daily Pakistan and Pakistan Observer, also mentioned watches.

It is not only about users. Retailers, wholesalers, traders and distributors are barred from selling or advertising these devices, both in shops and online.

What is not covered?

Your phone is safe. The order excludes mobile phones, laptops, tablets and other equipment approved by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. Authorised law enforcement staff are also exempt.

Why did the government do this?

The notification lists risks to public order, personal privacy, the dignity of women and children, and the security of sensitive data and buildings. It names places of particular concern: airports, exam centres, government offices, hospitals, shopping malls and courts.

The Punjab government said earlier in the week that it had received complaints of secret recording being used for harassment and blackmail, and that protecting women and children was a main goal, Daily Pakistan reported.

The court case in the background

The issue reached the Lahore High Court before the government acted. A public interest petition filed by a citizen, Husnainul Abideen, asks the court to stop the import of camera-equipped smart glasses, review PTA approvals and bar them from courts, airports and government offices, TechJuice reported. His lawyer told the court that Ray-Ban Meta glasses are sold openly in Lahore’s Hafeez Centre, even though Meta does not officially list Pakistan as a market. The court issued notices to the federal government, the PTA and the commerce ministry.

What happens next

The government has not publicly spelled out the penalty for breaking the order. It runs for 30 days unless withdrawn earlier, so the real question is what comes after: an extension, a permanent law, or a ruling from the Lahore High Court on the wider import question. Shopkeepers at tech markets such as Hafeez Centre will be the first to feel it.