The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has responded to accusations in the media that it has withheld payments to Google.
In a tweeter message, the SBP termed the reports “baseless and deceptive.”
Following reports in various parts of the media that Google Play Store services would no longer be accessible to Pakistani users from December 01 due to the SBP’s suspension of the direct carrier billing (DCB) mechanism.
The SBP has now issued a statement clarifying its position on the matter. “The fact is that in order to facilitate the domestic entities, the SBP specified certain Information Technology (IT) related services, which such entities can acquire from abroad for their own use and make foreign exchange payments there against up to USD 100,000 per invoice. Such services include Satellite Transponder, International Bandwidth/ Internet/ Private Line Services, Software License/ Maintenance/ Support, and service to use electronic media and databases.”
In light of Pakistan’s current liquidity crisis, the Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA), the Service of Data Innovation and Telecom, and four versatile cell administrators (CMOs) have repeatedly written a joint letter to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), requesting that it reconsider its decision to renounce the DCB system for the payment of the dollar charge.
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