Playstore update in Pakistan

Some news are grooming on social media about the play store update in Pakistan that the Google play store will be banned in Pakistan from 1st December

However, Android users in Pakistan won’t be able to buy paid apps or use in-app paid services through mobile carrier billing — a way for mobile users to pay for apps with their mobile credits — because the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) stopped payment of $34 million to global tech companies. This was done to stop the flow of dollars out of the country.

According to the details, the SBP suspended Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) — an online mobile payment method that allows users to purchase via their mobile credit. Therefore, the payment of $34 million to overseas service providers like Google, Amazon, and Meta, has been frozen.

However, it is important to highlight that Pakistani users can only continue to purchase apps through credit or debit cards or use paid services on the Google Play Store.

In this regard, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and four Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs) unanimously wrote to SBP, requesting to cancel the DCB mechanism. Revoke the decision. Paying dollar fees in light of the country’s liquidity crisis.

IT Minister Amin-ul-Haq’s Response

In a more recent development, Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Amin-ul-Haq, has taken notice of the issue and written to the Finance Minister, Ishaq Dar, to direct the central bank to resume the payments.

In light of the above-mentioned issue, he also asserted that the government and SBP must consult with the IT Ministry in the future while making IT-related decisions.

Furthermore, he highlighted the problems and challenges that the telecom sector is already facing, which have been exacerbated by the suspension of SBP payments.

He also confirmed that free apps will continue to be offered on the Google Play Store, adding that blocking payments to international organizations would bring the country into disrepute, while Android users who run paid apps Have or use these App Paid Services. Significant difficulties result from this decision.

After this official intervention, SBP could probably allow the payment of the pending $34 million. If funds are transferred, the direct carrier billing could be restored and users would be able to buy apps from Google Play Store through direct carrier billing again.

Hope you understand the situation

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