Pakistan’s BEEP App Signals Shift in Governance

Pakistan is soon going to introduce a secure, government-only messaging application, BEEP, to enhance data security, increase efficacy in official communication, and decrease reliance on foreign platforms.

Read more: Digital Democracy: Social Media, Misinformation, and Public Discourse in Pakistan

Pakistan is going all out to introduce BEEP, a secure messaging app only for government employees, which would be launched by mid-2026. The app, developed by the National Information Technology Board, NITB, will be pitched as a local alternative to instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp and has been inspired by China’s Weixin/WeChat model.

The lawmakers were informed that BEEP would provide end-to-end encrypted video communication to ensure the confidentiality of sensitive government discussions while presenting its features at a recent meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information Technology & Telecom. It was underlined by the officials that the platform would charge usage-based fees and could become financially self-sustainable over time.

The app also speaks directly to growing concerns over data sovereignty, as popular messaging platforms rely on foreign servers and do not fully adhere to the requirements for local data storage in Pakistan.

However, the meeting was not confined to BEEP only. Committee members unanimously rejected a Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) report claiming 99% mobile signal satisfaction when there were widespread internet slowdowns and poor quality of service. PPP’s Sharmila Faruqui called for independent audits to bring about transparency. Discussions also covered the 5G spectrum pricing and the withdrawal of the Digital Media Obscenity Bill 2025 after confirmation was given that the present laws were adequate.