August 14, 2007	Tuesday	Rajab 29, 1428

GUJRANWALA, Aug 13: Importers and traders association have protested against the manifold increase in the annual lockers fee by the National Bank of Pakistan and urged the SBP governor to look into the matter.

Speaking at a meeting held here on Monday, All Pakistan Stainless Steel Importers and Traders Association chairman Khwaja Shujaullah said the NBP had enhanced the annual fee of small lockers from Rs1,000 to Rs6,000, medium sized from Rs1,500 to Rs10,000 and large lockers from Rs2,500 to Rs14,000.

He said the rest of the scheduled banks, including MCB, HBL and BoP, were recovering annual fee of their lockers from Rs1,000 to Rs2,500 as usual.

He said people were using bank lockers owing to the rising incidence of dacoity but the NBP administration enhanced the charges instead of reducing the same.

Mr Shujaullah claimed that scores of NBP account holders were approaching other banks.

He said in far-flung areas only NBP was operating its branches and people had no other option except to deposit their cash and jewellery with the National Bank.

Traders have urged the State Bank governor to look into the matter.