The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has discontinued the direct carrier billing (DCB) method, therefore Google Play Store services will no longer be accessible to Pakistani consumers after December 1.
Users will not be required to use their bank cards to access the services, and most will be unable to download applications from the Google Play Store due to credit card restrictions.
The Telecom Ministry, PTA, and cellular service providers have addressed the SBP to request that the action be reversed since it would create problems for consumers.
“It is pertinent to mention here that we all understand the prevailing challenge of the country’s worsening economic conditions and thus are open to working in an amicable manner with the Regulator (SBP); as we are already working with them in case of the telecom sector imports related transactions to navigate through these testing times,” the telcos wrote to the SBP.
Nonpayments from Pakistan, which owes $34 million to foreign service providers, are affecting IT behemoths like Google, Amazon, and Meta, and may force them to terminate their services entirely.
For the latest Business & Tech news, follow us on Facebook, and Google News. For the latest news on business & technology