No smartphones in WAPDA offices, ban imposed

The Water & Power Development Authority (Wapda) in Lahore has decided to enhance security measures by prohibiting middle and lower-level management from carrying smartphones in offices due to potential breaches of sensitive data, as reported by The News on Monday.

In light of the prevailing security situation and threat alerts, a notification was issued by the secretary of the state power utility on April 14, stating that only officers of the rank of general manager and above would be allowed to carry smartphones (Android/OS) inside office premises.

The general manager (security) has been entrusted with ensuring the strict implementation of these instructions. Employees have been instructed not to bring smartphones to the office starting from Monday, and any violation will be subject to proceedings under Wapda Efficiency & Discipline (E&D) Rules 1978, as per the notification.

However, officers posted in the Public Relations Department, Protocol Department, Security Department, and Wapda Secretariat are exempt from this office order.

According to another circular, the authority has expressed concern over the frequent sharing of official documents on various social media platforms. All general managers have been directed to ensure that employees under their administrative control refrain from such activities in the future. Any deviation from the instructions will result in proceedings under relevant conduct and cyber laws.

The decision to ban smartphones in the workplace has faced strong objection from many employees, who view it as an autocratic and ridiculous decision by the management, and term it a foolish act.

On the other hand, the management justifies the step as essential for ensuring enterprise security and employee productivity. An official stated that regulating the use of smartphones is a step in the right direction, as smartphones can be used to capture photos, videos, and audio of sensitive information, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Thus, the measure is necessary to prevent potential breaches of sensitive data through smartphone cameras and microphones.