The State Bank of Pakistan is warning banks in Pakistan against any disruptions in ATM service during the Ramadan and Eid holidays in the country.
In a circular issued Aug. 15, the central bank ordered all banks to comply with its instructions regarding the management of their ATMs to ensure they are continuously availability through Sept. 1. It further warned that banks failing to comply would face heavy penalties, such as fines and closure of ATMs.
The central bank issued the circular after receiving complaints last year of ATMs being out of money and others breaking down for long periods, causing inconvenience to cardholders. Officials within Pakistan were unavailable to explain why deployers might disregard their ATM maintenance during the holiday period.
In any case, banks must continuously replenish their ATMs at regular intervals during the holiday period and make adequate back‐up arrangements in case of breakdowns, according to the central bank. They must deploy appropriate staff to address problems that may cause ATM malfunctions or outages, and they must provide a 24-hour helpline to resolve the day‐to‐day ATM operational issues, the circular said.
The central bank has appointed special teams to conduct surprise ATM inspections in various cities to ascertain compliance with its order.
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