KARACHI: Mobile app downloads in Pakistan declined to 3.51 billion in 2023 from 3.52 billion downloads last year while consumer spending rose to over $87 million from $82 million, according to a report released on Thursday.
Globally, the mobile app industry witnessed some recalibration where growth in new installs moderated 0.8 percent to reach 257 billion while consumer spending edged up 2.4 percent to $171 billion, according to a report by Data Darbar, a data and market intelligence platform, and Emirati streaming platform Begin.
“After two years of being the fastest growing major market, new app downloads from Pakistan tapered off slightly in 2023,” Natasha Uderani, co-founder of Data Darbar, said in a statement issued on Thursday.
The decline was in line with the global slowdown where many peer countries, such as Egypt, Indonesia and Vietnam, experienced similar trends, Uderani said.
Just over a third of all Pakistani downloads during 2023 were games while the share of apps stood at 64 percent. This aligned with the global trend where 34 percent of the installs were for apps and the remaining 66 percent for games.
However, with continuous decline in the cost of broadband, Pakistanis were now consuming more mobile data than ever, which meant that apps would take center stage for the country’s digitalization wave and the growth in downloads will reaccelerate in the coming years.
Meta and ByteDance dominated the most downloaded apps chart, with Tiktok comfortably taking the lead at almost 32 million installs during 2023 while WhatsApp Business followed behind, the data showed.
This was in line with the global trend where the two big tech giants remained the top publishers. Among games, the offline habits replicated in the online realm as three of the five most downloaded games in Pakistan were Ludo apps.
Among categories where publishers performed well, entertainment and finance stood out with downloads of 172 million and 144 million, respectively. The former featured Jazz-owned Tamasha in the top spot while Telenor’s Easypaisa led in the latter.
“The rise of streaming and finance apps in Pakistan underscores the underlying shift toward mobile for the delivery of not only entertainment but also banking services,” said Jonathan Mark, chief commercial officer of Begin, a UAE-headquartered streaming service launching in the GCC region and South Asia.
“As consumers become more tech-savvy and their demand for digital services increases, we expect to see further growth and innovation in these and other app categories.”
Pakistanis spent about 99 billion hours using mobile apps where 7.5GB average data was consumed by the users per month. This translates into a jump of 13.8 percent compared to 87 billion hours in 2022, meaning Pakistanis spent an additional 12 billion hours on their mobiles during the year, the report added.
The South Asian nation, in line with the global trends, also experienced a continuous decline in the average cost of one gigabyte (GB) of data. Compared to the FY18 levels, cost has plunged by 71.4 percent to Rs32.8. However, over the last two years, the rate of decline has moderated noticeably and is now in just single digits.
The total cellular subscriptions in Pakistan fell annually to close FY23 at 190.9 million, down 1.9 percent from 194.6 million, first instance of decline in at least six years, and possibly on record.
Both Jazz and Telenor, the two largest telecoms, contributed to the downward trend with their subscriptions falling by 4.1 million and 3.1 million, respectively, according to the report.
On the supply side, the total apps published by Pakistani developers continued its downward slide and hit just over 4,800 in 2023, down 11.4 percent. This was almost singularly driven by Google Play, where the count of Android apps fell by 600. Consequently, the share of iOS in the aggregate edged up to 22.3 percent.
3.51 billion phone app downloads in Pakistan in 2023 amid spending surge — report
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3.51 billion phone app downloads in Pakistan in 2023 amid spending surge — report
- After two years of being fastest growing major market, new app downloads from Pakistan tapered off in 2023
- Decline was in line with global slowdown that included many peer countries such as Egypt, Indonesia, Vietnam
Pakistan anticipates more high-level Saudi business delegations amid stronger bilateral ties
- Foreign office says the two countries are involved in robust dialogue that has gained significant momentum
- It categorically denies reports that Pakistan is providing military bases to any foreign country against anyone
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan anticipates continued visits by high-level business delegations from Saudi Arabia in the upcoming weeks to further explore investment opportunities facilitated under the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the foreign office announced on Thursday.
The statement came just days after Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif concluded his visit to Riyadh, where he addressed the two-day World Economic Forum conference that began on April 28.
During his visit, Sharif met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and several Saudi ministers to strengthen bilateral relations and economic partnerships between the two nations.
Prior to his visit to the kingdom, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan was in Islamabad with a large delegation, saying the Pakistani administration’s resolve to strengthen the economy would yield “significant benefits.”
“Saudi investors have been coming to Pakistan in recent months, and engaged with the SIFC in terms of exploring opportunities for Saudi investments in Pakistan, and this is an ongoing process, and we expect similar high-level business delegations to undertake visits to Pakistan in the coming days and weeks as well,” foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told reporters in her weekly media briefing.
She added that both countries were involved in robust and mutually beneficial dialogue that had gained significant momentum in recent months.
“Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are engaged in consultations with each other in terms of increased Saudi investments in Pakistan, including in the energy domain,” she added.
Asked about reports of Pakistan providing military bases to the United States, Baloch called them baseless rumors.
“Pakistani has no plan to provide any bases to a foreign country against any other country,” she continued.
Speaking about the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s summit in Gambia, the spokesperson said the country’s deputy prime minister Ishaq Dar would highlight the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the imperatives of solidarity and unity of the Muslim Ummah, rising Islamophobia, issues of climate change, terrorism, and other contemporary global challenges.
She said Pakistan strongly condemned the escalating violations of human rights by Israel and increasing number of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
“Israel’s actions constitute a breach of international law, including humanitarian laws and other pertinent international laws, and these acts also undermine any prospects of a two-state solution,” she added.
Pakistan vows ‘foolproof security’ for Chinese nationals after militant attacks
- Interior minister says government implementing strict security protocols for safe movement of Chinese workers
- A suicide bomber targeted a convoy of Chinese nationals near Dasu earlier this year, killing five of them
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Thursday the government would ensure “foolproof security” for Chinese nationals following militant attacks targeting them in the country where most of them have been working on infrastructure development projects.
Naqvi made this assurance during his visit to the Chinese consulate in Karachi, where he discussed the issue in his conversation with a top diplomat Yang Yuandong, who welcomed the minister to the facility.
Five Chinese nationals were killed earlier this year in March after a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into their convoy which was on its way from Islamabad to the site of a key hydroelectric dam in Dasu.
Prior to that, Chinese workers also came under attack by Baloch separatists near the Gwadar port. The incident led to the death of eight militants.
“It is our duty to ensure foolproof security for Chinese citizens,” Naqvi said during the during his visit to the consulate. “Strict implementation of standard operating procedures for safe movement of Chinese citizens is being ensured.”
Pakistan took action against a number of senior officials after the Dasu attack, saying they showed negligence and had failed to follow the security protocol.
He said the “enemy” wanted to undermine the China-Pakistan friendship but would not succeed.
According to a statement circulated by the ministry, the Chinese diplomat expressed satisfaction with the overall security plan for the protection of the Chinese workers.
Pakistan’s cricket body names 18-player squad for T20I series against England, Ireland
- A 15-player squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be announced before the May 24 deadline
- Fast bowler Haris Rauf along with all-rounders Hasan Ali and Salman Ali Agha have been recalled
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday announced the 18-player squad for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England & Wales beginning on May 10 and continuing till the end of the month.
According to a PCB statement, the squad will be reduced to 15 players for next month’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 after the first T20I at Leeds on 22 May to meet the ICC’s 24 May deadline.
The men’s national selection committee has recalled fast bowler Haris Rauf, along with all-rounders Hasan Ali and Salman Ali Agha, in the 18-player squad.
The two cricketers who did not make the cut from the original 17-player squad that faced New Zealand are wrist spinner Usama Mir and fast bowler Zaman Khan.
“Crafting this squad was a challenging task due to the outstanding talent available,” the PCB selection committee was quoted in the statement. “After thorough deliberation and considering various cricketing aspects, we have finalized 18 players.”
“The squad encompasses a robust top-order featuring Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub and Usman Khan; an effective middle-order with Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed and Muhammad Irfan Khan; versatile all-rounders in Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan and Salman Ali Agha; a pace battery led by Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi; and the spin prowess of Abrar Ahmed,” it continued.
“We understand Usama and Zaman will be disappointed and they should be as they must be looking ahead to the tours of Ireland and England,” the statement added. “They are quality cricketers and have long careers ahead of them. They need to continue to focus on their cricket so that they are available, if required.”
Haris Rauf and wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan were sidelined for the New Zealand T20Is due to injuries, while middle-order batter Muhammad Irfan Khan and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan were rested from the two T20Is in Lahore due to niggles.
The four cricketers underwent fitness assessments at the National Cricket Academy on Tuesday afternoon, showing significant improvement.
The team is scheduled to depart for Dublin on May 7 following a three-day training camp in Lahore.
Pakistan PM mourns death of UAE royal, lauds role in strengthening bilateral ties
- Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed worked closely with the UAE founding father, helped implement the federal project
- The UAE president has announced a seven-day mourning period after the death of Sheikh Tahnoun on May 1
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed grief over the death of the United Arab Emirates royal, Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, while admiring his contributions to building stronger relations between the two countries.
Sheikh Tahnoun was Abu Dhabi’s representative in the Al Ain region of the Gulf state.
His demise at the age of 82 prompted UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to announced a seven-day mourning period in which the country’s flag would be flown at half-mast.
“Deeply saddened at the demise of His Highness Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohamed Al Nahyan,” the Pakistan prime minister said in a social media post. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the leadership and people of the UAE at this hour of grief.”
“He will be long remembered for his contribution to building stronger ties between Pakistan and the U.A.E.,” the post added. “May Allah Almighty grant him eternal peace.”
Sheikh Tahnoun worked closely with the UAE founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and was part of the team that implemented the federal project that led to the declaration of the Union in 1971.
He also served his country in several key capacities in subsequent years and worked to provide better governance to its people.
Pakistani think tank reports significant surge in militant attacks with 70 killed in April
- Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies says Khyber Pakhtunkhwa suffered maximum militant violence
- Pakistan has endured 323 militant attacks during the first four months of the year, resulting in 324 fatalities
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani think tank circulated a report on a significant increase in the number of militant attacks in the country on Wednesday, saying 70 people lost their lives in at least 77 verifiable episodes of extremist violence in the month of April.
Pakistan has witnessed a prolonged surge in militant attacks since the breakdown of a fragile ceasefire between the government and a proscribed armed network, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), in November 2022.
Apart from TTP fighters, other extremist and separatist groups have also targeted Pakistani security forces and civilians in recent months.
According to Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), there was a brief lull in March before militant groups resumed their activities last month, with the northwester Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, particularly its southern districts, bearing the brunt.
“According to PICSS statistics, the country experienced at least 77 verifiable militant attacks during April, resulting in 70 fatalities, including 35 civilians and 31 security forces personnel, with four militants killed, and 67 individuals injured, among whom were 32 civilians and 35 security forces personnel,” the security report said.
“In comparison, March 2024 saw 56 militant attacks, resulting in 77 fatalities and 67 injuries,” it continued. “This indicates a 38 percent increase in the number of militant attacks, although there was a 9 percent decline in deaths, with no change in the number of injuries.”
The Islamabad-based think tank informed Balochistan witnessed 16 attacks, resulting in 21 fatalities, including 17 civilians and four security forces personnel, with 31 individuals injured.
Punjab also experienced a surge in militant activities, with four attacks reported in April compared to one in March, resulting in three fatalities.
“In the first four months of the year, Pakistan experienced a total of 323 militant attacks, resulting in 324 fatalities and 387 injuries,” the report added.
