The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) has approved a major initiative to introduce the Pak Awaaz Secure Mobile Communication Ecosystem, aimed at ensuring cyber-secure and sovereign communication for government officials.
The project has received in-principle approval from the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), marking a significant step toward strengthening Pakistan’s digital security infrastructure.
According to officials, the project is estimated to cost Rs. 708 million and will provide 10,000 secure mobile devices to government personnel. These devices will be equipped with advanced security features, including a hardware root of trust, ensuring a high level of protection against cyber threats. Notably, the devices will be manufactured locally and will operate on an indigenously developed, hardened operating system designed to prevent unauthorized access and cyberattacks.
The National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) will oversee the implementation of the project by establishing a private mobile communication network using existing cellular infrastructure. Unlike conventional mobile networks, this system will remain isolated from public networks, ensuring maximum security for official communications.
To further enhance protection, the ecosystem will use centralized multi-factor authentication, verifying users through a combination of identity, SIM credentials, and device authentication.
The Pak Awaaz platform will also offer a comprehensive suite of secure communication tools, including:
- End-to-end encrypted voice calls
- Secure video conferencing
- Encrypted messaging services
- Protected file sharing
In addition, the system will feature advanced administrative controls, application management systems, and a dedicated Network Operations Center (NOC). All infrastructure will be hosted at the NTC Data Centre to ensure centralized monitoring and security.
Beyond communication, the ecosystem will introduce a sovereign digital environment with a private government app store, secure chat applications, controlled directory services, and safe deployment of official applications.
Key platforms such as the e-Office system will be integrated into the ecosystem, enabling secure digital workflows and significantly improving the cybersecurity framework of government operations across Pakistan.
The Pak Awaaz initiative reflects Pakistan’s commitment to building a secure, self-reliant digital communication infrastructure for its public sector.
