Punjab bans hidden-camera pens, glasses and watches: sale and use to face legal action

The Punjab government on Monday, 19 October, banned spy devices with hidden cameras or recording equipment, including pens, glasses and watches, the Punjab Home Department said in a statement. Use, purchase and sale of such gadgets will face strict legal action, Business Recorder reported.

Home Secretary Ahmad Javed Qazi said a formal notification would be issued within a few days, ProPakistani reported citing Dawn. The decision was announced in advance so that people holding such items can get rid of them before it takes effect.

Why the ban

The department said it had received complaints of hidden recorders being used for illegal surveillance, harassment and blackmail, and that the ban is meant above all to protect women and children and the privacy of ordinary citizens.

What is covered

• Pens, eyeglasses and wristwatches fitted with a concealed camera or microphone
• Other covert electronic and spying devices sold for secret recording

The statement does not name the law under which the ban will be imposed, its duration or the exact penalty. Those details should appear in the notification. Ordinary phones, CCTV cameras installed openly and dash cams are not mentioned in the statement.

Smart glasses in court

Separately, the Lahore High Court is hearing a public interest petition against the unregulated import and sale of smart glasses with cameras and microphones. The petitioner's counsel told the court that Meta's AI glasses are sold online and in Lahore shops even though Pakistan is not an official market for them, and cited privacy and security concerns.

What it means for you

• Shopkeepers in electronics markets selling spy pens or camera glasses should stop once the notification is out.
• Buyers should not purchase such items online for delivery in Punjab.
• If you find a hidden device recording you at work, in a hostel or a changing room, report it to the police helpline 15 or the Punjab Virtual Women Police Station. Online blackmail can also be reported to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA).

We will update this story with the notification's legal section and penalties when it is issued.