KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Monday that all branches of commercial banks would remain open on the 2nd and 9th of July (Saturdays) during the Eid holidays.

The SBP said all commercial banks would strictly ensure availability of ATM services round the clock.

For early replenishment of cash at ATMs, banks will make proper arrangements of currency stock at the respective ATM feeding branches. Commercial banks will make public the contact numbers of focal persons for quick redressal of all complaints relating to malfunctioning or shortage of currency notes in ATMs.

Each year thousands of complaints are launched against ATMs: either the machine stops working or it remains out of cash. An SBP spokesman said the central bank would follow the government regarding the Eid holidays, but Saturdays have been excluded from the list of holidays.

The government has yet to announce the Eid holidays.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2016