You might be wondering why Google Play Store services are shutting down in Pakistan. What will be the impact on the users? In this article, we will try to address some of your concerns.

First, why Google Play Store services are shutting down?

This is due to the State Bank of Pakistan blocking payment of $34 million to international service providers.

The payment was stalled after the central bank stopped using the direct carrier billing (DCB) mechanism.

Life after Google Play Store

Customers in Pakistan will now be forced to download Google and other third-party apps in order to make purchases using credit cards or debit cards exclusively.

However, because the credit card option is only available to a certain number of consumers, the majority of mobile users might not be able to download programs from the Google Play Store.

Moreover, due to non-payment, all of the big players, including Google, Amazon, and Meta, are suffering and are most likely to stop providing their services.

As a result, users won’t be able to use digital platforms like digital banking, e-commerce, e-education, and e-health that use cloud infrastructure and require licenses for both applications and web-based platforms that are severely impacted.

Additionally, Federal minister for IT and telecommunication Amin-ul-Haq confirmed that the services of free apps on Google Play Store will continue to be available, adding that blocking payments to international organisations will bring the country’s name into disrepute, while Android users who operate paid apps or use in-app paid services will face significant difficulties as a result of this decision.

PTA, CMOs ask SPB to review DCB decision

On Friday, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, and four cellular mobile operators (CMOs) wrote a letter to the SBP asking it to reconsider its decision to revoke the DCB mechanism in light of the country’s current liquidity crisis.

IT Minister Amin-ul-Haq’s take on the issue

Federal Minister for IT and telecommunication Amin-ul-Haq has written a letter 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.