BATTAGRAM: The Automated Teller Machines (ATM) of many banks in the district ran out of cash on Monday, causing inconvenience to the account holders on the eve of Eidul Azha.

“The bank has made an announcement that ATM will be fully operational during Eidul Azha holidays. Can anyone ask the relevant officials why they link down one day before Eid despite knowing that hundreds of people will have to draw cash,” said Amjad, a local resident.

The people complained about lack of cash in the machines, seizure of ATM cards and faulty network. They said that several ATMs in Battagram were either out-of-order or without cash.

The local people said that various landline and mobile phone numbers were given in the lists displayed at ATM booths, but when they tried to make contact on those numbers no one attended their calls.

“ATM card holders are running from one branch of a bank to another to draw money for Eid shopping and for buying sacrificial animals,” said Mohammad Nabi, a security guard.

Despite clear instructions by the State Bank of Pakistan, the ATMs of almost all banks either remained out-of-order or out of cash.

The manager of local branch of a bank said that they had put sufficient cash in the ATM but it got finished owing to huge withdrawal on Eid days. “We are trying our best to facilitate people.

People are trying multiple ATMs to get cash but many have to return empty handed because of non-availability of cash in the machines,” he added.

Another banker said that around 70 per cent ATMs were left with no cash owing to heavy withdrawal for shopping. He alleged that those commercial banks, which closed the doors of ATM booths on the pretext of being out-of-order, actually cheated customers.

The ATM card holders appealed to the authorities concerned to look into the matter.

Published in Dawn September 13th, 2016