Ramadan Bank Timings Revised by SBP
The revised Ramadan bank timings and ATM cash shortages have caused inconvenience for many citizens, who are advised to plan their banking activities and utilize online services to avoid long queues and cash shortages.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has announced revised banking hours for the holy month of Ramadan, with commercial banks, development finance institutions, and microfinance banks operating from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, and 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Fridays.
For public dealings, banks will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, with Friday services closing at 12:30 p.m. The revised schedule will be in effect until the 15th of Ramadan, after which regular timings will resume. Citizens are advised to plan accordingly and utilize online banking services where possible to avoid inconvenience.
Meanwhile, many automated teller machines (ATMs) in Karachi and other parts of Pakistan ran out of cash as people rushed to withdraw money for shopping and household expenses at the start of Ramadan. The surge in withdrawals led to long queues outside ATMs, leaving customers frustrated. Some ATMs are expected to run out of cash due to Zakat deduction in banks.
The State Bank of Pakistan has also announced that banks will remain closed for public dealing on Monday for the deduction of Zakat. All employees will attend the office on this day. The central bank has urged citizens to plan their banking activities accordingly and use online banking services to minimize inconvenience.
