Islamabad: IT Minister Aminul Haque said that Finance Ministry agreed to devise mechanism for making payments against Google app services and directed State Bank of Pakistan to delay revocation of direct carrier billing (DCB) for telecom companies, abating concerns about possible unavailability of paid Google apps in Pakistan. “Ministry of Finance has agreed to proposal of Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Amin Ul Haque with regard to evolving an effective mechanism and making payment against Google App services.

“Minister said after agreement payment would be made to Google as per schedule and all its application services to remain intact,” a statement by IT Ministry said. Statement further quoted Haque as saying SBP had also been directed to delay implementation of DCB policy for one month.

“However, to facilitate their legitimate IT-related payments, telcos have been advised through their banks to resubmit their requests,” SBP said. SBP’s move evoked concerns that direct payments through mobile phone carriers would be unavailable to citizens in coming days for buying some services.

Reports suggested that paid Google application and other services would not be available in Pakistan from December 1, though free Google applications and other free services would remain available.

Haque expressed gratitude to Dar and Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa for timely decision on issue, IT Ministry said.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 02 2022

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