KARACHI, Aug 9: The State Bank has denied rumours/ reports that it has announced Saturday as a gazetted holiday with effect from August 10, 2002.

The chief spokesman of SBP said in a press statement that the gazetted holidays could only be declared by the federal government and the State Bank can only announce bank holidays.

He said that neither the government nor the State Bank had announced that Saturday would be observed as a closed holiday.

He also said that there was no move whatsoever to declare Saturday as closed holiday for banks.

“The banks will continue to observe Saturday as a half working day i.e. they will remain open from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm. The State Bank has issued necessary instructions to banks in this regard.”

The spokesman advised the banks and the general public not to pay heed to rumours or unfounded reports.