Pakistan unveils WhatsApp alternative called ‘Beep Pakistan’

Islamabad: Pakistan has taken a significant step towards digital autonomy with the launch of Beep Pakistan, a locally-developed messaging application aimed to serve as a secure and efficient digital communication platform.

The app has been hailed as an alternative to the widely used WhatsApp instant messaging and calling service.

Developed in collaboration between Pakistan’s IT Ministry and the National Information Technology Board (NITB), Beep Pakistan was unveiled by Pakistan’s IT Minister Aminul Haque this week.

“We can now proudly say Pakistan has a WhatsApp alternative”, the minister said at the launch event. While acknowledging the digital endeavours of neighbouring countries that have already introduced WhatsApp alternatives, he said though “We have been a bit late … but it is better to be late than never.”

The Made-in-Pakistan app is currently accessible exclusively to government officials. The app’s phased rollout will begin with internal government usage within the IT ministry and expansion to other ministries and departments followed by a public rollout across Pakistan. The project, initiated in 2020, overcame numerous challenges and security clearances on its path to fruition. Minister Haque confirmed that Beep Pakistan is slated for public release within a year with enhanced security and reliability. He expressed hope that the app would gradually become the preferred substitute for WhatsApp in the country of 241 million people.

Some of the noteworthy features of Beep Pakistan include robust security protocols and a broad range of options such as high-quality audio/video calling, secured messaging, document sharing, and conference capabilities.

Haque suggested that the app’s conferencing feature could serve as an alternative to platforms like Zoom. He added that the application is aimed at securing and efficient digital communication among government officers and employees.

Baber Majid Bhatti, the CEO of the National Information Technology Board, envisions the app as an integrated platform, optimizing communication and efficiency within government departments.

“Beep Pakistan is a transformative platform that will revolutionize the way our government operates through seamless collaboration between ministries, offering data-driven decision-making for policymakers, and enhanced services to citizens” on a secured platform, he said. Citizens can access services and permits online when the app is rolled out publicly. Drawing a comparison with other similar apps, he said, “Beep Pakistan is not only a messenger. It is a digital bridge connecting ministries and departments.”

With its origin and source code rooted within Pakistan, Beep Pakistan is poised to provide citizens with a secure and trustworthy communication platform, officials said. The app’s data will be securely hosted in Pakistan. “Security is the prime component of the architecture of this app” according to NITB CEO Bhatti.

Mohammad Zohaib Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), hailed the homegrown app as a significant development, especially in government communication. Khan highlighted its secure data-sharing features and predicted future feature enhancements.

Across the world, WhatsApp is the primary platform for text messaging and photo exchange. However, there are a few local alternatives gaining prominence.

For instance, Zalo has dominated Vietnam’s messaging landscape for almost a decade, boasting an 87 per cent usage rate in 2022, outpacing competitors like Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram.

In the MENA region, the most popular messaging and call app is BOTIM.

In South Korea, KakaoTalk is the most popular messaging app lauded for its convenience.

WeChat continues its dominance in China, amassing over one billion monthly active users in the country. Meanwhile, the Turkish app BiP also stands out for features like multilingual messaging and advanced group chats.