KARACHI, Oct 28: Over 210 branches of commercial banks in the earthquake affected areas of Azad Kashmir and NWFP have been made functional.

“About 230 branches of seven commercial banks including National Bank of Pakistan, Habib Bank Limited, United Bank Limited, Allied Bank Limited, MCB Bank, Bank of Khyber and the Bank of Punjab were operating in the districts of Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Bagh, Mansehra and Abbottabad when the earthquake struck these districts on October 8, 2005. All 45 branches of five big banks are functioning in Rawalakot,” said a press release issued by the State Bank on Friday.

In Muzaffarabad, 9 branches of National Bank, five branches of Habib Bank, three branches of Allied Bank, two branches of United Bank and one each branch of Muslim Commercial Bank, Bank of Khyber and Bank of Punjab have been made functional.

In Bagh, all 11 branches of NBP and 5 branches of HBL including one branch of ABL, two branches of UBL are operational.

In Abbotabad, 51 branches of NBP, 10 branches of HBL, 17 branches of ABL, 13 branches of UBL and 21 branches of MCB are operational.

In district Mansehra, three branches of NBP, two branches of ABL and one each branch of HBL and UBL are operational.