Will Google Play Store really close in Pakistan from December 1?
Posted on Nov 28, 2022
After the above news came out, people expressed their concern using the hashtag "Google Play Store" and appealed to the government to take steps to ensure the service of the application download store.
The Ministry of Information Technology (IT) issued a clarification that quickly became the top trend on Twitter, stating that even after December 1, the free facilities of Google Play Stores will be maintained in the country.
پاکستان میں اینڈرائیڈ فون صارفین کیلئے بری خبر#Andriod #Pakistan #DawnNews #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/3rHLJsHVhI
— DawnNews (@Dawn_News) November 26, 2022
In a series of tweets, the ministry confirmed that the Central Bank's change to the Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) method has stopped payments from mobile phone service providers to global internet technology companies.
گوگل ایپلی کیشن کی بندش/امین الحق کا بیان
— Ministry of IT & Telecom (@MoitOfficial) November 26, 2022
وزیر خزانہ معاملے کا فوری نوٹس لیتے ہوئے اسٹیٹ بینک کو ادائیگی جاری رکھنے کی ہدایت کریں. ضروری ہے کہ مستقبل میں آئی ٹی وٹیلی کام کے حوالے سے فیصلوں میں وزارت کی مشاورت لازمی شامل کی جائے." (امین الحق) pic.twitter.com/8fVA2DGirg
According to the statement, the services of certain applications may be affected in Pakistan from December 1, 2022, due to the suspension of payments to international organizations.
The Ministry said that Federal Minister Syed Aminul Haque has written a letter to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in this regard, appealing to the State Bank to make payments under the old method of "DCB."
معاملے کی سنگینی پر تمام اسٹیک ہولڈرز سے مشاورت کے بعد وزارت خزانہ کو مراسلہ لکھنے کا فیصلہ کیا گیا. ٹیلی کام انڈسٹری پہلے ہی مشکلات کا شکار ہے اس طرح کے فیصلے معاملات مزید خراب کرسکتے ہیں. اسٹیٹ بینک کی جانب سے ادائیگی روکنے سے پاکستان میں پیڈ گوگل ایپس سروسز معطل ہوجائیں گی.
— Ministry of IT & Telecom (@MoitOfficial) November 26, 2022
According to the Ministry of Information Technology, mobile internet technology companies in the country are already having trouble. Things could get worse after December 1 if apps that charge money for services stop working.
It's not clear which apps will be affected in Pakistan after December 1, but the Ministry of Information and Technology has said that the Google Play Store won't stop working and that people can still download free apps from there.
Government: Google Play Store will stop it's services in Pakistan from December 1
— Potato (@manahilalich) November 26, 2022
Le Mehangai se tang awam: pic.twitter.com/xrwYl0BtWt
The news of the closure of Google Play Stores in Pakistan was reported by the English newspaper "The News" on November 26, and it was said that the State Bank has asked global companies, including Facebook's owner Meta, Amazon, Google, and other companies. They could not make direct carrier billing payments, due to which the Play Store service is likely to stop in the country after December 1.
Everyone talking about shutdown of google play store
— Baji_Tweets (@Baji_2020_) November 26, 2022
People who use app store : pic.twitter.com/kU9PKVvxuf
However, according to the Ministry of Information and Technology, even after December 1, free applications can be downloaded in the country.
Google play store services will not be available in Pakistan from 1st December
— Passionate ✨🇦🇷 (@TheArdentSoul) November 26, 2022
Ghareeb tabah de 🤦♀️
Some businesses, e-commerce companies, and other online business service providers, including payment providers, may face difficulties after December 1, but general users will be able to download free applications.
Google Play Store Is Unavailable after Dec 1.
— Muhammad Wajahat (@eng_waji) November 26, 2022
Ye haaal krdia is nalaik hakumat ne pic.twitter.com/SQ3qqFPiI1
After the news of the closure of the Google Play Store in Pakistan came out, people on Twitter shared various memes in this regard.
🔴 Govt. tested Newton's 3rd Law 🔴
— Baqar Jafri (@TheBaqarJafri) November 26, 2022
ACTION: Google decides to set up operations in Pakistan
REACTION: Google Play Store Service will be suspended from December 1st.
Takeaway: To every action, there is equal and opposite reaction.
