• Source:JND

Pakistan is set to roll out a locally developed secure messaging app, "Beep," for government employees in the coming months, local media reported on Wednesday. The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecom was informed on Tuesday that the messaging app inspired by the Chinese social media platform WeChat is almost ready for launch and is expected to meet the project deadline of June 30, 2026, the Dawn newspaper reported.

National Information Technology Board (NITB) Chief Executive Faisal Iqbal Ratyal said that "Beep" had been locally developed and certified by relevant government agencies for official use, such as the National Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT), which has formally cleared the application for official use.

Why did Pakistan launch the Beep app?

The Standing Committee Chairman, Syed Aminul Haque, directed the NITB to ensure the timely rollout of the application. “The purpose of launching Beep is to provide a secure messaging platform for public sector employees nationwide,” Ratyal told the committee. He added the launch would take place in a phased manner, starting with federal ministries and associated departments.

ALSO READ: Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir To Meet Trump For 3rd Time In 6 Months; Is Shehbaz Sharif On Way Out?

The app will be rolled out in the next two months and will be integrated with Pakistan's federal e-Office system, enabling secure messaging, document sharing and workflow coordination within government institutions.

According to the NITB, Beep will offer end-to-end encryption for text messages as well as video calls used by government officials.

Ratyal stressed that additional security features had been incorporated to address the concerns raised by the committee members amid recent global incidents that underscored vulnerabilities in digital platforms regarding data security and the protection of official communications.

ALSO READ: Bondi Beach Terror Attack: What Is Hanukkah And Why Pakistani Father-Son Duo Targeted Jewish Celebration

Beep's encryption standards had been strengthened to make it suitable for sensitive discussions, Ratyal added. The platform would operate on a usage-based fee model, and efforts were underway to make it financially self-sustaining over time, said the NITB chief.

Beep' server based in Pakistan

Officials said Beep's servers would be based in Pakistan, with stricter security safeguards inspired by WeChat, while noting that although WhatsApp is a widely used platform for voice calls, video calls and media sharing, its data servers are located outside the country.

ALSO READ: Bondi Beach Shooting: Pakistani Father And Son Carried Out Terror Attack; 16 Dead, Dozens Injured | Top Updates

The committee was also briefed that the federal e-Office system had been introduced to reduce paperwork and improve transparency, and that integrating Beep was expected to strengthen internal coordination and reduce operational risks.

(With inputs from agency)


Also In News