Sindh bans photography in govt girls’ colleges

Notification says photos of female students were misused on social media, violating laws and social, religious values

KARACHI:

The Sindh College Education Department has imposed a complete ban on photography in government girls’ colleges across the province, warning that any violation could lead to disciplinary or legal action.

According to an official notification, college principals have been formally informed of the decision and directed to strictly enforce the ban. The move follows an advisory issued by the Sindh special secretary for colleges on the basis of which the regional director of College Education Karachi has sent official letters to all government colleges in the city.

The notification stated that photographs of female students had been misused on social media platforms, constituting a serious violation of social and religious values as well as existing laws. The department has reportedly received formal complaints regarding the unauthorised photography and circulation of such images, it added.

Taking strict notice of the issue, the special secretary for education highlighted incidents involving the unauthorised photography of female teachers and students and the subsequent sharing of these images on Facebook, WhatsApp, and other digital media platforms. In response, the department decided to impose a strict ban on all such activities within college premises.

In a letter issued by the College Education Regional Director Professor Qazi Arshad, it was further stated that any violation of the ban would result in disciplinary action against the concerned college principals and staff members.

 

Earlier, the Punjab government had banned the use of mobile phones by teachers and students in schools. All district education officers were instructed to strictly enforce the ban in both government and private schools.