Cabinet committee restricts imports of camera-enabled smart glasses

The Economic Coordination Committee of the federal cabinet has approved restrictions on the import of smart glasses with built-in cameras, citing concern over how the devices are used in workplaces. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb at the Finance Division on Wednesday, ProPakistani reported.

The report gave no detail of what the restrictions consist of: whether imports are banned outright, made subject to a licence or charged a higher duty. It did not say when they take effect, which models or manufacturers are covered, or how large the import trade in the devices is.

The committee also recommended that provincial governments and the Islamabad Capital Territory write regulations for the use of the devices at work, according to the report. That would leave the rules on where camera-equipped glasses may be worn to the provinces and to the capital's administration.

ProPakistani's headline said the ECC had banned Meta glasses. The report itself described camera-enabled smart glasses and named no brand. Bloom Pakistan carried the same decision under the headline "ECC Bans Smart Glasses Imports in Pakistan" and named no manufacturer either.

The ECC is the cabinet committee that examines economic and trade proposals from the ministries before they are put to the federal cabinet. Its decisions go to the departments that have to carry them out.

Camera-enabled eyewear lets the wearer record video and take photographs without holding a device. The reports tied the restriction to workplace concerns rather than to any specific incident.

ProPakistani's report did not say which ministry brought the proposal to the committee, nor whether the restriction covers personal sets brought in by travellers as well as commercial consignments.

The recommendation on workplace rules names the provinces and the Islamabad Capital Territory, the jurisdictions that legislate on labour and employment conditions.