ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on IT and Telecom was informed that the government plans to launch a new messaging application, Beep, for public sector officials in the coming months.
The app is being developed on the model of China’s WeChat and aims to provide secure communication for government use.
The committee met on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Syed Amin Ul Haque. Officials told the meeting that the Beep app is ready and is expected to be launched by June 2026.
Chief Executive Officer of the National Information Technology Board (NITB), Faisal Iqbal Ratyal, said the main purpose of Beep is to offer a secure messaging platform for government employees. He added that the app will support end-to-end encryption, including secure video calls, making it suitable for sensitive official discussions.
ALSO READ
HEC offers local, foreign scholarships for Balochistan students
Replying to a question about costs, the NITB chief said the app will run on a usage-based fee system and efforts are being made to make it financially self-sustaining. The federal IT secretary clarified that earning revenue is not the main goal, and the priority is safe, reliable and efficient communication within government institutions.
During the meeting, officials also discussed the widespread use of WhatsApp in Pakistan. Members noted that although the app is popular for calls and file sharing, its data servers are not located inside the country.
The committee chairman rejected the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Quality of Service report, which claimed 99 percent satisfaction with mobile signals across the country. Committee members said frequent internet slowdowns and weak signals do not match the report’s findings.
ALSO READ
PM launches regulatory reforms, says economy enters recovery phase
PPP MNA Sharmila Faruqui questioned the PTA’s survey method and called for future Quality of Service surveys to be carried out by independent third parties. She said external audits are necessary to ensure transparency and credibility.
The committee also recalled its earlier instructions that the 5G spectrum auction should be held in Pakistani rupees and that spectrum prices should not be set too high. It directed that any discount or concession given to telecom companies must be linked to actual improvements in network and infrastructure.
Members expressed concern over the absence of the Director General of SCO for the third consecutive meeting.
The committee also discussed the Prevention of Obscenity and Indecency in Digital Media Bill, 2025, moved by MNA Shahida Rehmani.
ALSO READ
Government to publish senior officials’ assets online by 2026
During the discussion, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) told the committee that similar laws already exist and a new law would create overlap. The agency said such matters are already covered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA).
Following these remarks, the mover withdrew the bill. The committee directed members to consult NCCIA to review any gaps in the existing law and, if needed, suggest amendments to PECA instead of creating a new authority, to avoid overlapping legislation.
