Pakistan’s IT ministry announces WhatsApp alternative, ‘Beep Pakistan’

Pakistan has launched its own alternative to instant messaging app WhatsApp. The app called ‘Beep Pakistan’ has reportedly been developed in collaboration between Pakistan’s IT ministry and the National Information Technology Board (NITB).

Pakistan’s IT minister Aminul Haque unveiled the ‘Beep Pakistan’ app earlier this week. “We can now proudly say Pakistan has a WhatsApp alternative”, the minister said at the launch event. While acknowledging the digital progress of neighbouring countries, the minister added, “We have been a bit late … but it is better to be late than never.”