Pakistan has reached a major milestone in digital security. The National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) has created the country’s first fully secure mobile phone designed for government use and sensitive communication.
According to senior NTC officials who spoke to ProPakistani, ten prototype devices have already been produced. This marks an important step toward building a secure and completely local communication system for the government.
Locally Built Hardware and Software
NTC confirmed that both the hardware and the operating system were developed inside Pakistan. The phone runs on a special operating system that does not connect to the internet. This greatly reduces chances of hacking or spying.
All apps on the device are created by local engineers. This gives Pakistan full control over the software, unlike commercial smartphones that depend on foreign companies.
How the Secure Phone Works
Officials explained several important security features:
- The phone has no internet access, so remote hacking is not possible.
- It can only call another secure handset, blocking all unauthorized communication.
- It works with SIM cards from all Pakistani telecom companies.
- The device has no data backup, so nothing can be extracted if the phone is stolen or lost.
- All communication is fully encrypted and cannot be intercepted even by advanced monitoring systems.
These features ensure that sensitive government conversations remain private and protected.
Why Pakistan Needed Its Own Secure Phone
NTC officials said that popular apps like WhatsApp are not safe for government-level communication. Service providers can access user data, and during the recent Pakistan-India tensions, some WhatsApp conversations involving official channels were reportedly leaked.
This created concern within the government and showed the need for a secure communication system that is completely independent from foreign companies.
Pilot Project Complete — Mass Production Awaits Approval
The first ten devices have been built and delivered during the pilot phase. Officials have informed higher authorities that large-scale production will require more funding.
If the government approves the budget, secure phones could soon be used across ministries and security institutions, strengthening Pakistan’s national cybersecurity.
Moving Toward Digital Independence
This new secure phone initiative is part of a global shift where countries are building their own communication technology. By creating local hardware, a custom operating system, and its own encryption, Pakistan is taking a major step toward digital independence and improved national security.