Islamabad: The federal government has decided in principle to take strict disciplinary action against civil servants who violate newly updated regulations governing social media usage. Under the Civil Servants (Conduct) Rules 2026, government officials' personal social media accounts, alongside official institutional channels, have been brought directly under state regulatory oversight. The measures aim to curb anti government narratives, prevent unauthorised self publicity, and ensure institutional control over official digital assets.
Under the newly enforced framework, federal authorities have stepped up monitoring of civil servants' online presence to ensure compliance with official policy. Civil servants involved in promoting activities or expressing opinions contrary to established state positions will face formal disciplinary proceedings. The regulations explicitly target the use of anonymous or fake accounts intended to criticise or defame state institutions, with authorities reserving the right to require officials to disclose full details of both their personal and official social media handles upon request.
The revised policy establishes clear boundaries between public duty and individual self promotion across all digital platforms. Government officials are strictly prohibited from using their personal social media profiles to showcase routine official work for individual recognition or follower growth. Similarly, official department channels cannot be utilised for the personal branding, publicity, or self projection of the presiding officer, ensuring institutional platforms remain focused solely on public service information.
To maintain strict administrative control over official communication channels, the rules mandate that government social media accounts may only be created and operated with prior written authorisation. Content posted on these handles must be restricted to verified government information and authorised official activities. Furthermore, when an official leaves a post or transfers out of a department, they are legally required to surrender all administrative access, login credentials, and archived data to their designated successor immediately.
The reach of the Civil Servants (Conduct) Rules 2026 extends beyond standard social media platforms to cover the broader landscape of public communication. The regulations encompass television appearances, radio broadcasts, podcasts, personal blogs, video sharing channels, and independent websites.
