Pakistan Unveils New Home-Grown Messaging App Amid Internet Disruptions
The Pakistani government is launching a new messaging app called “Beep Pakistan” for federal officials and employees. This app is meant to ensure secure and unified communication within the government, not to compete with WhatsApp.
Shaza Fatima Khwaja, the state minister for IT, emphasized that Beep Pakistan is designed for privacy and security, and it is not intended to rival other messaging apps. The app is currently being tested and will soon be rolled out to various government departments.
The government is introducing Beep Pakistan amid ongoing internet issues in Pakistan, including disruptions on social media platforms and complaints about internet throttling. Concerns about WhatsApp’s security, especially after the Pegasus spyware reports, have also driven this initiative.
Khwaja stated that Beep Pakistan aims to protect sensitive government communications and may be offered to the public later. However, she assured there are no plans to block WhatsApp.
