Dar takes notice of difficulties faced by pensioners

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday took strong notice of the difficulties being faced by the pensioners in collecting pensions at various bank branches.

Talking to State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) governor on telephone the finance minister asked him to contact the National Bank authorities and redress the problems of the people.

The minister also advised the SBP to ensure 24-hour operation of automated teller machines service by the banks to facilitate customers during the Eid holidays.

The finance minister said that sufficient cash must be kept available in the ATMs to facilitate people and save them from any inconvenience, according to the statement issued by the ministry.

The SBP has advised all commercial banks to take necessary measures for facilitation of general public by ensuring uninterrupted availability of the ATM services on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

The ATM sites of commercial banks will be examined by inspectors of the State Bank and verification teams of the SBP's Banking Service Corporation (BSC) field offices during the period from July 1 till July 10 to verify their operational status.

In view of the extended Eid holidays, banks have also been advised to intimate the SBP BSC Field Offices in advance about the extra cash that they may need so that adequate arrangements could be made for replenishing their ATMs during Eid holidays.