Pakistani engineers have developed a government messaging app called 'beep' for secure communication among officials, as announced by authorities in Islamabad. The app has undergone successful testing and is awaiting government approval for potential availability to millions of citizens. The National Information Technology Board's CEO stated that 'beep' is a homegrown chat application that has completed trial runs and is ready for launch.
Meanwhile, ordinary Pakistanis have faced challenges accessing social networking platforms like X, which were blocked prior to the recent parliamentary elections. The elections were marred by violence, a nationwide mobile phone service shutdown, and allegations of vote rigging. Despite authorities citing security reasons for the phone service suspension, critics, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan, have accused the government of attempting to disrupt communication to facilitate vote rigging.
Internet restrictions have been common in regions like Baluchistan province, with annual suspensions during the Ashoura Islamic commemoration. Research by cybersecurity company Surfshark B.V. revealed five internet restrictions imposed during and after the elections, undermining democratic processes and fair elections.
The 'beep' app is intended to ensure uninterrupted communication among officials and security forces, offering features for text, audio, video sharing, and conference calls. While requiring an internet connection, the app is touted as safer than other messaging platforms. Details on restricting internet access solely to Pakistani officials or approved users were not provided.
