Flood-hit districts in Sindh: Banks told to ensure uninterrupted ATM services

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has advised banks to make special arrangements to ensure uninterrupted ATM services in all those districts which have been declared flood-affected by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The SBP has also advised banks not to recover any service charges on use of Pakistan Cards in the flood-affected districts of Sindh.
Pakistan Cards have been issued to flood-affected people of various districts of Sindh through Habib Bank Limited (HBL) and United Bank Limited (UBL) for withdrawal of cash through their ATMs. However, due to large number of flood victims holding these cards, the ATMs of the two banks are inadequate to cater for their cash requirements.
"To facilitate flood victims and alleviate their sufferings, banks having ATMs in the affected districts of Sindh are advised to make special arrangements to ensure that their ATMs are operational and cash is replenished in a timely manner," the SBP PSD circular letter of October 7, 2011 said. The compliance of these instructions would be verified through surprise checks by inspection teams and any failure would invoke penal provisions of the relevant laws, the circular added.