Pakistan is moving forward with a new project to strengthen the security of official government communications. The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) has decided to launch the Pak Awaaz Secure Mobile Communication Ecosystem. The initiative aims to create a sovereign and cyber-secure communication platform for government officials.
According to ministry officials, the project is designed to protect official communication from increasing cyber threats. It will provide a secure and independent mobile communication environment for government users across the country.
The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has already granted in-principle approval to the project under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). Officials said the project carries an estimated cost of Rs. 708 million.
As part of the initiative, around 10,000 secure mobile devices will be provided to government officers. These devices will include a hardware root of trust to improve security against cyberattacks and unauthorized access.
The smartphones will be manufactured in Pakistan and will operate on an indigenously hardened operating system. Officials believe this approach will improve digital sovereignty while reducing dependence on external software solutions.
The National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) will implement the project. It will deploy a private mobile communication network using the country’s existing cellular infrastructure.
Unlike public mobile networks, the new system will remain isolated to improve security. Officials said this separation will reduce cybersecurity risks and provide stronger protection for sensitive government information.
The secure network will use centralized multi-factor authentication. Access will be verified through the user, the SIM card, and the mobile device before communication is allowed.
The Pak Awaaz project will also introduce a dedicated communication platform for government users. The platform will support end-to-end encrypted voice calls, video calls, messaging, and secure file sharing.
Officials said the system will include application management tools, administrative controls, and a Network Operations Center (NOC). The complete communication infrastructure will be hosted at the NTC Data Centre.
The project also includes the creation of a sovereign software environment. This environment will feature a private app store, secure chat services, controlled directory systems, and protected delivery of government applications.
Several important government platforms will operate through the new ecosystem. These include the e-Office system, which supports digital workflows within government departments.
By integrating these services into a secure environment, Pakistan aims to improve the protection of official data and digital communications. The government also expects the project to strengthen cybersecurity across public institutions.
Officials believe the Pak Awaaz initiative represents an important step toward building a secure digital infrastructure. The project combines locally manufactured devices, encrypted communications, and sovereign software into one protected ecosystem.
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Once implemented, the platform is expected to improve the confidentiality of government communications while supporting secure digital governance. The initiative also reflects Pakistan‘s broader efforts to strengthen cybersecurity, protect sensitive information, and develop reliable digital infrastructure for the public sector.
