Key Takeaways
- The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has approved the Pak Awaaz Secure Mobile Communication Ecosystem project.
- The initiative aims to provide secure mobile devices and a private communication network for government officials.
- The project includes end-to-end encrypted voice and video calls, messaging, and file-sharing services.
Pakistan is set to launch the Pak Awaaz Secure Mobile Communication Ecosystem project, designed to offer a secure mobile communication platform for government officials. The initiative was approved by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) and includes the provision of 10,000 secure mobile devices manufactured in Pakistan.
According to ministry officials, the project will feature hardware root of trust and an indigenously hardened operating system, enhancing protection against cyberattacks. The network will be isolated from public mobile networks and use centralized multi-factor authentication for secure access. This includes user-based authentication, SIM card verification, and device-specific security measures.
The National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) will implement the project by deploying a private mobile communication network over existing cellular infrastructure. The network will provide end-to-end encrypted voice and video calls, messaging, and file-sharing services, ensuring secure official communications. Additionally, the platform will include dedicated application management, administration, and Network Operations Center (NOC) systems.
The secure mobile ecosystem will be hosted at the NTC Data Centre, creating a sovereign software environment with a private app store, secure chat applications, controlled directory services, and secure delivery of government applications. Key government platforms, including the e-Office system, will operate through this secure communication infrastructure to enable protected digital workflows.
The project has an estimated cost of Rs. 708 million and is expected to significantly strengthen Pakistan's secure digital communications infrastructure for government officials. The initiative aims to protect official communications from cyber threats by providing a self-contained and independent mobile communication environment.
