ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has planned to launch its own WhatsApp-like messaging app, Smart Office, by June 2021 which will include all modern communication features besides announcing to expedite work on finalising Personal Data Protection Bill.

After the recent security concerns raised by global users and masses in Pakistan over WhatsApp new privacy policy, Federal Minister for Information Technology (IT) and Telecom Aminul Haque said that ‘Smart Office’ app will be launched by the Pakistani government by June 2021.

واٹس ایپ کا متبادل

ہم سوشل میڈیا ایپ واٹس ایپ کی اپ ڈیٹ پالیسی کے حوالے سے پاکستانی صارفین میں پائی جانے والی تشویش سے بخوبی آگاہ ہیں اور تمام معاملات کا باریک بینی سے جائزہ لیتے ہوئے اپنی پالیسیوں کو مرتب کررہے ہیں.#WhatsappPrivacy #WhatsApp #MOITT #DataProtection pic.twitter.com/YkT2tZKb9U

— Ministry of IT & Telecom (@MoitOfficial) January 15, 2021

He said in a statement that the federal cabinet issued orders to develop an app like WhatsApp for government employees. Haque added that it is now necessary to expedite work on the Personal Data Protection Bill.

The federal minister said that the government is fully aware of concerns of WhatsApp users over its policy update and privacy rights of the users could not be violated. He also expressed serious concerns over the Facebook-owned WhatsApp’s move to start deleting user accounts for not accepting its policy update.

“WhatsApp should have taken opinion from users before updating its policy and no company is allowed to impose its decisions to its users through constraints.”

“The policy should be the same for global users. The new policy will not be effective in some countries including Europe, Brazil and the United States.”