The Lahore High Court (LHC) has taken up a petition seeking a ban on the sale of camera equipped smart glasses in Pakistan and has summoned senior government officials after responses from several concerned authorities were not submitted despite court notices. Chief Justice Aaliya Neelum heard the petition filed by Nadira Bibi and expressed concerns over the delay in receiving replies from relevant departments. The court directed the Interior Secretary, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman, Commerce Secretary, and Member of Customs to appear in person at the next hearing scheduled for October 15.
During the hearing, officials from different government departments appeared before the court, including Deputy Director of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) Hassan Naqvi and Deputy Attorney General Rafiqat Ali Dogar. The deputy attorney general presented a report on behalf of NCCIA, while Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) legal adviser Muhammad Afzal Khan requested additional time to submit PTA’s response regarding the matter. The court accepted the request and allowed further time for the authority to provide its position. The hearing also focused on the absence of responses from other respondents who had already received notices from the court. Chief Justice Aaliya Neelum questioned why the remaining parties had not submitted their replies despite being formally notified about the proceedings. The court sought clarification from the concerned authorities regarding the delay and subsequently adjourned the case until October 15. The proceedings are focused on reviewing concerns raised in the petition and obtaining responses from government institutions responsible for areas including regulation, customs, commerce, and cybersecurity.
In her petition, Nadira Bibi raised concerns regarding the availability of camera equipped smart glasses in markets and supermarkets across Pakistan. She argued that such devices could potentially be used for recording individuals without their knowledge or consent, creating privacy and security concerns. The petitioner stated that the sale of these devices should be reviewed by relevant authorities and claimed that necessary approvals from government institutions had not been obtained before their availability in the market.
The petition requested that the court seek explanations from relevant departments and consider imposing restrictions on the sale of camera enabled smart glasses until regulatory concerns are addressed. The case highlights broader discussions around emerging technologies, digital privacy, and the need for appropriate frameworks to manage devices capable of collecting audio and visual information. As smart devices with built in cameras become increasingly common globally, regulators and courts in different jurisdictions continue to examine how privacy protections can be maintained while allowing responsible adoption of new technologies. The LHC proceedings will continue after government officials submit their responses and provide further details regarding the regulatory position on such devices in Pakistan.
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