PESHAWAR
In an effort to improve governance and prevent government servant’s participation in social media platforms without prior permission, the provincial government has barred all government employees from using social media platforms and their participation in Whatsapp groups.
According to a notification issued by the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Establishment Department here on Tuesday, government servants can participate in any social media platform except with the permission of the government.
The notification says that no government servant will use social media platforms to discuss or share information pertaining to government affairs. The action was taken after civil servants were found participating in different Whatsapp groups and social media platforms where matters pertaining to political issues, sectarianism and anti-state activities were being discussed. “However, various instances have come to the notice of the competent authority that civil/government servants are participating in Whatsapp groups and social media platforms where matters pertaining to political issues, sectarianism and anti-state activities are being discussed, “the notification said.
“Rule-34 (A) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Servant (Conduct) Rules, 1987 stipulated that no government servant shall use social media to discuss or share information on issues relating to government business,” the notification added.
It warned the government servant against dissemination of ‘official information ‘documents to non-official persons or to the press.
Earlier a week, caretaker Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan has also urged the public servants to strictly follow the guiding principle as laid down in the constitution for government servants.
He had remarked in a function that public servants must be politically impartial as they are not rulers but paid out of public taxes for service delivery.
