Daily Times

LAHORE: All banks of the city remained open until 5pm on the directions of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to facilitate businessmen and citizens. However, extremely low turnover of the customers irked the bankers throughout Saturday in the provincial capital.

Unlike the routine business, it was a working day for all banks’ staffers, who remained disturbed, as it was not only the fourth day of Eid but also their weekly holiday.

Muhammad Imran, a banker, told Daily Times that SBP did this due to media pressure, otherwise there was no need for banks to be operational on Saturday. “Previously there happened to be up to five holidays on Eid but no Saturday was turned on (as working day) for bankers. It is only due to media hype – making a non-issue as an issue,” he remarked.

Another banker Huma Saleem said, “My family had planned to go out of city on this Eid, but due to my duty on Saturday, the family couldn’t enjoy.” She said the policymakers and state bank must take decisions carefully, as there was almost no customer in their all branches of the bank.

“Our senior staff stayed at home, however, we had to come and wait for the customers through the day,” she added.

A similar situation was witnessed in Faysal Bank, National Bank of Pakistan, Silk Bank, Soneri Bank, Habib Bank Limited, Allied bank and other banks operating in the city. The

SPB officials said the decision was taken in the best interest of the business community and the citizens.