ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan is set to launch its own alternative Beep Pakistan to the widely used instant messaging application, WhatsApp.

Pakistan has already successfully tested “Beep Pakistan,” the nation’s first indigenous messaging application, developed by the Ministry of IT and the National Information Technology Board (NITB). The app is scheduled to be rolled out to all government employees within the next 45 days, with a public launch to follow in a subsequent phase.

The development of Beep Pakistan began in 2020, with the app designed to support a range of communication needs including audio and video calls, messaging, conference calls for up to 200 participants, and document sharing.

Former IT Minister Amin ul Haque emphasized that, unlike WhatsApp, Beep Pakistan’s servers will be located within the country, providing enhanced data security. “Just as China has WeChat and the US has WhatsApp, Pakistan now has its own app,” Haque stated.

Baber Majeed Bhatti, CEO of the NITB, confirmed that the app has been tested and deployed within the Ministry of IT. He asserted that Beep Pakistan offers more features than WhatsApp, explaining that “Beep Pakistan aims to provide the government with a unified and secure communication platform.”

Bhatti refrained from revealing the app’s development costs or the name of the Pakistani company involved. He noted that Beep Pakistan would be rolled out gradually and could be made available to the public once it receives government approval.

When asked about the possibility of a WhatsApp ban following Beep Pakistan’s public launch, Bhatti commented that such decisions are beyond his authority. Haque clarified that while he supports Beep Pakistan, he does not advocate banning other social media platforms. “We want Beep Pakistan to be used widely in Pakistan, but users should have the freedom to continue using WhatsApp if they prefer,” he said.

This announcement coincides with recent disruptions to WhatsApp services in Pakistan, particularly affecting media file transfers. Digital rights activists suggest these disruptions may be related to the government’s testing of an online firewall intended to control free speech and limit dissent.

Check for more Technology News.

Download “Kalam AI” to generate Social media Posts easily.