Connect with us

Pakistan

Wapda bans smartphones in offices citing security risks

Published

on

  • Middle, lower-level management banned to carry smartphones. 
  • Only officers of rank of general manager, above would be allowed. 
  • Many employees strongly object to imposing ban on phones. 

LAHORE: The Water & Power Development Authority (Wapda) has decided to beef up security measures by banning middle and lower-level management to carry smartphones in offices citing potential breaches of sensitive data, The News reported Monday. 

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

The general manager (security) has been tasked with ensuring the implementation of the instructions in letter and spirit. The employees have been asked not to bring smartphones from today (Monday).

Any violation would be liable to be proceeded 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 would be exempted from this office order. 

As per another circular, the authority has taken a serious view of the fact that official documents are frequently being shared on different social media platforms. 

All general managers must ensure the employees under their administrative control refrain from any such activity in the future, it said, adding any deviation from the instructions shall lead to proceedings under relevant conduct and cyber laws.

Meanwhile, many employees strongly objected to imposing a ban on carrying/using smartphones at the workplace. They called it an autocratic as well as ridiculous decision by the management, terming it a foolish act.

However, according to the management, the step is indispensable to ensuring enterprise security and employee productivity. 

The step was direly needed to check possible breaches of sensitive data, intentionally or not, via smartphone cameras and microphones, an official said. 

“So some sort of regulation on the use of smartphones is a step in the right direction as a smartphone can be used for capturing photos, videos and audio of sensitive information,” he added.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

FO admits that a boat capsized in Greece, killing four Pakistanis.

Published

on

By

The deaths of four Pakistanis in a boat capsizing event close to the southern Greek island of Goudos have been verified by the Foreign Office.

The incident happened on Sunday and at least five illegal immigrants drowned as a result. According to Greek Coast Guards, 39 people were rescued after the wooden boat overturned, but 40 more are still unaccounted for.

According to a Foreign Office spokeswoman, the four Pakistani nationals were among those killed in the catastrophe. In order to help the remaining Pakistanis and repatriate the corpses of the deceased, the Pakistani Embassy in Athens has been in close communication with Greek authorities, she said.

Additional information was given by Aamir Aftab Qureshi, Pakistan’s ambassador to Greece, during a press conference. According to him, there were 80 Pakistanis on board the doomed boat, and efforts are still being made to find the people who are still missing.

He added that the overcrowding on the boat was a factor in the capsizing. There are worries over the safety of the missing people because a sizable portion of them are children. He stated that five boats carrying Pakistani nationals were traveling illegally from Libya.

The public was also informed by Ambassador Qureshi that the government will pay for the return flight of the accident victims’ bodies.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Every office will have a biometric system installed by Lesco.

Published

on

By

system in each office.

Details show that the LESCO had ordered the installation of biometric systems in all offices, including the divisions and the circle.

The installation of the biometric system at the headquarters resulted in an increase in attendance, as the LESCO CEO had stated.

The CEO of LESCO claimed that the biometric system has resolved the issues related to the fictitious overtime and off-days.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Around 450 Pakistanis have successfully crossed into Lebanon from Syria, according to a briefing from the Foreign Office.

Published

on

By

Approximately 450 Pakistanis, including 250 Zaireen, have successfully crossed into Lebanon from Syria, according to the spokesperson for the Foreign Office, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch.

During her weekly briefing at the foreign office in Islamabad, she stated that Pakistan is pleased with the resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly on the Gaza Strip, which calls for an immediate ceasefire.

In addition, she expressed her satisfaction with the elimination of limits placed on UNRWA’s ability to carry out relief activities in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

It was stated by her that Pakistan is demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities in Palestine, an end to the genocide that is taking place in Gaza, the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, unrestricted access to humanitarian aid for those who are in urgent need, full support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and its mandated humanitarian activities, and medical assistance for those who are in urgent need.

Moreover, she stated that Pakistan emphasises the need for the international community to hold Israel accountable for the war crimes and crimes against humanity that it has committed in occupied lands.

The Israeli aggression against Syria, the illegitimate acquisition of Syrian territory, and the massive devastation of Syrian infrastructure as well as civilian and military sites are all topics that Pakistan is extremely worried about, according to the spokesperson for Pakistan.

According to her, this attack on Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is a serious violation of international law to the highest degree. By expressing our support for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, we are also expressing our opposition to the Israeli government’s attempt to acquire territory through coercion.

The resolution 497 of the United Nations Security Council, which declares the annexation of the Golan Heights by Israel to be null and illegal and to have no international legal impact, was reaffirmed by her organisation.

Continue Reading

Trending