Pakistan has achieved a major breakthrough in national cybersecurity with the development of its first locally made secure mobile phone, designed specifically to prevent hacking, interceptions, and remote attacks.
The device, created under a new operating system, comes after WhatsApp communications proved insecure during the recent Indo-Pak war.
In Islamabad, officials announced that the secure mobile phone -- built entirely with Made in Pakistan software and hardware -- is now ready for deployment. The development marks a significant step forward in the country’s cyber-defense capabilities.
According to National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) MD Major General (retd) Ali Farhan, the device is designed for government figures and key officials, ensuring complete protection from digital intrusions.
No internet connectivity eliminates hacking risks
The new operating system does not connect to the internet, a deliberate design decision to eliminate all risks of: hacking, backdoor access, remote attacks, and data breaches.
Any SIM from Pakistani telecom operators can be used, but the phone’s internal system remains sealed from all online access.
All applications installed on the phone are exclusive to the secure ecosystem and have no data-backup capability, preventing any form of external data extraction.
Communication limited to secure devices only
The phone operates through a secure communication loop, meaning:
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Calls can only be made to other secure phones of the same type
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Monitoring or intercepting calls is impossible
This design ensures that classified government communication remains safe from hostile surveillance.
WhatsApp proved insecure during Indo-Pak war
NTC MD Ali Farhan revealed that the move to develop a local secure phone began after a critical failure: WhatsApp communications were intercepted during the recent Indo-Pak war, compromising sensitive discussions.
“Conversation was reaching the other side. We learned a lesson from it,” he said, stressing that Pakistan cannot rely on foreign communication platforms for national-security matters.
Under a pilot phase, 10 secure phones were successfully developed and tested. Ali Farhan confirmed that the project report has been submitted to higher authorities, and additional funding is now required for mass production.
This milestone represents what officials describe as “a very important step in national security” and a major achievement by Pakistani cybersecurity experts.
Prime objective: Unmonitored communication
Ali Farhan reiterated that the goal is to ensure that communication among government leaders and senior officials cannot be monitored anywhere, domestically or internationally.
The secure phone, he emphasized, closes all known avenues of digital interception.
