The federal government is preparing to relaunch the ‘BEEP’ messaging application for government officials across Pakistan in the coming months, with an initial rollout expected within two months.
Chief Executive Officer of the National Information Technology Board (NITB), Faisal Ratyal, shared the update while briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecom on Tuesday. He confirmed that the BEEP application has been locally developed and certified by all relevant government agencies, including the National Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT).
The BEEP app was originally launched in August 2023 under the tenure of former Federal Minister for Information Technology, Syed Amin Ul Haque, on a trial basis. Mr Haque, who now serves as Chairman of the National Assembly IT & Telecom Committee, emphasized the importance of ensuring a timely and effective rollout during the committee session.
According to NITB, the primary objective of BEEP is to provide a secure, encrypted communication platform for public sector employees. The phased rollout will begin with federal ministries and their attached departments before expanding to other government institutions.
The application will be integrated with Pakistan’s federal e-Office system, enabling secure messaging, document sharing, and improved workflow coordination within state institutions. Officials believe this integration will strengthen internal communication and reduce operational risks.
BEEP includes enhanced security features such as full encryption for text messaging and end-to-end encryption for video calls, making it suitable for sensitive government communications. These upgrades were introduced following committee concerns over data security, particularly in light of global cyber and security challenges observed in 2024.
Addressing operational costs, Ratyal informed the committee that BEEP will function on a usage-based fee model, with efforts underway to make the platform financially self-sustaining. However, the Secretary IT clarified that revenue generation is not the app’s primary objective, and the focus remains on secure, efficient, and reliable communication across government departments.
Currently, platforms such as WhatsApp—whose data servers are located outside Pakistan—are widely used for official communications. In contrast, BEEP’s data servers are hosted within the country, offering greater control and enhanced security. The app’s design and security framework draw inspiration from platforms like WeChat.
Officials believe the relaunch of BEEP, alongside the federal e-Office system, will further reduce paperwork, improve transparency, and strengthen coordination across government institutions.
