In a significant step towards securing official digital communication, Pakistan is poised to introduce its own dedicated messaging application for government employees. Named 'BEEP', the platform draws inspiration from China's widely-used WeChat and is scheduled for a phased rollout starting within the next two months.
Secure Communication for the Public Sector
The National Assembly Standing Committee on IT & Telecom was briefed on Tuesday that the application is nearly ready for deployment. National Information Technology Board (NITB) Chief Executive Faisal Ratyal assured the committee that the project is on track to meet its deadline of June 30, 2026.
Ratyal explained that the primary objective of BEEP is to provide a secure messaging platform for public-sector employees across the nation. The app will be launched in phases, beginning with federal ministries and their attached departments. It will be integrated with the existing federal e-Office system to enable secure messaging, document sharing, and streamlined workflow coordination within government institutions.
Committee Chairman Syed Aminul Haque directed the NITB CEO to ensure the timely rollout of the application, which has been developed locally and certified by all relevant government agencies.
Enhanced Security and Financial Model
Addressing previous concerns raised by the committee about data security, especially in light of global incidents in 2024, Ratyal detailed the app's robust security features. BEEP will offer full end-to-end encryption not only for text messaging but also for video calls, making it suitable for sensitive government discussions.
Unlike widely used platforms like WhatsApp, whose data servers are located outside Pakistan, BEEP's data server will be based within the country, offering greater data sovereignty. Its security protocols are modeled on the stringent framework of WeChat.
Regarding operational costs, Ratyal emphasized that BEEP will operate on a usage-based fee model. Efforts are ongoing to make the platform financially self-sustaining in the long term. The IT Secretary clarified that revenue generation is not the app's primary goal; instead, the top priority is ensuring secure, efficient, and reliable communication across all state institutions.
The committee was informed that the National Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT) has already approved the app for official deployment.
Committee Rejects PTA's 99% Satisfaction Claim
During the same meeting, lawmakers expressed strong dissatisfaction with the state of internet and telecom services in the country. They unanimously rejected the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority's (PTA) claim of a 99% user satisfaction rate presented in its Quality of Service report.
Chairman Aminul Haque challenged the data, which stated that 99% of users nationwide were satisfied with mobile signals. Panel members argued that this figure was "incomprehensible" given the frequent internet slowdowns and weak mobile signals experienced by the public.
Committee member Sadiq Memon denounced the report, calling the data "ridiculous" and highlighting a worsening gap between official reporting and public experience. MNA Sharmila Faruqui questioned the PTA's survey methodology and called for future Quality of Service surveys to be conducted by independent third parties to ensure credibility and transparency.
The committee also reiterated its previous directives concerning the upcoming 5G spectrum auction. It stressed that the auction should be conducted in Pakistani rupees, spectrum prices should not be set unnecessarily high, and any discounts given to telecom operators must be strictly linked to investments in network and infrastructure improvement.
