The Google Play Store will no longer serve apps in Pakistan from December 1, 2022. This was announced by the Pakistani Authorities on Wednesday. The decision comes after the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) asked Google to block access to over 50 apps that it says are “being used for blasphemy, spreading extremism, and causing social disharmony.” Google has not yet responded to the PTA’s request.

However, it did say that it would “comply with the local laws.” This is a developing story and we will update this post as more information becomes available.

Google Play Store to Stop Serving Apps in Pakistan

On December 1st, Google will no longer be allowing app developers to distribute their apps through the Play Store in Pakistan. This change comes after the Pakistani government demanded that Google remove certain “offensive” and “blasphemous” content from the store, which Google refused to do.

The Pakistani government has not yet said what specific content they find offensive, but this likely includes apps that are critical of the government or that allow users to access banned websites. The ban on the Play Store will not affect existing apps, but it will make it much harder for new apps to reach users in Pakistan.

This is a major blow to freedom of expression in Pakistan, as the Play Store is one of the main ways that people can access new and innovative apps. It also puts a strain on local app developers, who will now have to find alternative ways to reach their audience.

What This Means for Pakistani App Developers

As of December 1st, 2022, the Google Play Store will no longer be available for app developers in Pakistan. This change is a result of new government regulations that require all app developers to register with the Pakistani Telecommunication Authority (PTA). Under these new regulations, the PTA will have the authority to block apps that it deems to be “against the national interest or order”.

The Google Play Store is an essential platform for many app developers in Pakistan, so this change will have a significant impact on the Pakistani app development community. While some developers may be able to register with the PTA and continue to publish their apps on the Google Play Store, others may choose to self-publish their apps outside of Google’s ecosystem.

There are a few things that Pakistani app developers can do to prepare for this change:

1. Register with the PTA: App developers who wish to continue publishing their apps on the Google Play Store will need to register with the PTA. The registration process is not yet open, but it is expected to launch in early December.

2. Self-publish your app: If you don’t want to register with the PTA, you can self-publish your app outside of the Google Play Store. This option gives you more control over your app’s distribution, but it comes with some challenges (like marketing your app effectively).

3. Find an alternate platform: There are other platforms besides the Google Play

How to Keep Your App Available in Pakistan

If you’re an app developer with users in Pakistan, you’ll need to take action to keep your app available in the Google Play Store after December.

As of December 2022, the Google Play Store will no longer be available in Pakistan. This is due to a change in local laws that we can’t work around.

If you want your app to remain available in Pakistan, you’ll need to move it to a different store. The two most popular options are the Amazon Appstore and the Samsung Galaxy Store.

Both of these stores are available in Pakistan and offer a similar experience to the Play Store. Moving your app is easy and only takes a few minutes.

We understand that this may not be the ideal solution for all developers. But we want to make sure that everyone has ample time to make the necessary changes before our services are disrupted.

Alternatives to the Google Play Store

There are a few alternatives to the Google Play Store for Android users in Pakistan. The first is the Amazon Appstore, which offers a decent selection of apps and games. However, Amazon’s Appstore is not available in all countries, so it may not be an option for some users.

Another alternative is the F-Droid store, which is an open-source app store that specializes in free and open-source apps. F-Droid is available in Pakistan, but the selection of apps is more limited than what’s available on the Google Play Store.

Finally, there are several third-party app stores that are available in Pakistan, such as the 1Mobile Market and Mobogenie. These stores offer a decent selection of apps, but they may not be as reliable as the Google Play Store.

Conclusion

Google has announced that it will be stopping its Play Store service in Pakistan from December 1st. This means that Pakistani users will no longer be able to access or download apps from the store. While there is no official reason given for this decision, it is speculated that it is due to the recent crackdown on unlicensed and fake Android apps in the country. Whatever the reason, this is a major setback for the Pakistani app market, which was already struggling to compete with other global app stores.