Pakistan to launch BEEP secure messaging app for officials

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published 1 hour ago |  JP Staff Report

Pakistan’s IT committee was told a WeChat-style BEEP app for officials will launch by June 2026, while lawmakers rejected PTA service claims and debated telecom and cyber laws.

Summary

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecom has been informed that the government plans to launch a secure messaging application, BEEP, for public sector employees, modeled on China’s WeChat platform.

The committee was told that the application is ready and is expected to be rolled out by June 2026, to provide a secure communication channel for government officials handling sensitive information.

BEEP rollout and security features

Briefing the panel, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Information Technology Board, Faisal Iqbal Ratyal, said the purpose of the BEEP app is to offer a secure messaging platform for public sector employees. He stated that the application includes end-to-end encryption, including for video communications, making it suitable for sensitive government discussions.

Ratyal added that the application would operate on a usage-based fee model, with efforts underway to make it financially self-sustaining over time. The federal secretary for information technology clarified that revenue generation is not the primary objective and that the main focus remains secure, efficient, and reliable communication across state institutions.

Concerns over existing platforms and data

Committee members noted that WhatsApp, owned by Meta, remains the most widely used platform in Pakistan for voice calls, video calls, and media sharing, but its data servers are not located inside the country. This concern has frequently been raised in discussions around data security and sovereign control of communications.

During the same meeting, the committee strongly challenged data presented by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority in its Quality of Service report, which claimed a 99 percent satisfaction rate for mobile signals nationwide.

PTA report, telecom policy, and legislation

Members unanimously rejected the PTA assessment, citing frequent internet slowdowns and weak mobile signals across the country. Pakistan Peoples Party lawmaker Sharmila Faruqui questioned the methodology used to compile the survey and called for future Quality of Service assessments to be conducted independently by third parties to ensure transparency and credibility.

The committee also recalled its earlier direction that the upcoming 5G spectrum auction should be conducted in Pakistani rupees and that spectrum prices should not be set excessively high. It directed that any discount or concession given to telecom operators must be strictly linked to measurable improvements in network and infrastructure development.

Lawmakers expressed concern over the absence of the Director General of the Special Communications Organization for the third consecutive meeting. The committee also deliberated on the Prevention of Obscenity and Indecency in Digital Media Bill, 2025, moved by MNA Shahida Rehmani. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency informed the panel that similar legal provisions already exist under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, warning that a separate law could create overlapping legislation. Following these observations, the bill was withdrawn, and members were directed to consult with the NCCIA to identify any gaps that could be addressed within the existing PECA framework.

KEY POINTS:

• Government plans to launch the BEEP secure messaging app for officials by June 2026
• App will include end-to-end encryption for text and video communications
• The committee rejected the PTA's claim of 99 percent mobile service satisfaction
• Lawmakers called for independent audits of telecom quality surveys
• Digital media bill withdrawn over concerns of overlapping cyber laws

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting based on proceedings of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecom, as published by The News.