NEW DELHI: In this season of demonetisation, the High Commis­sion for Pakistan here is trying to stave off a cash crunch of an entirely different kind.

The mission has written to India’s external affairs ministry to protest against the policies of the bank where Pakistani officials’ salaries are deposited.

According to Pakistan, the bank has imposed additional conditions for withdrawal of the salaries that the mission officials receive in dollars. Several senior diplomats have refused to withdraw their salaries in protest against the new conditions.

These conditions, which came into effect only last week, make it mandatory for Pakistani officials to fill up additional forms specifying their expenditures and also that they exchange their dollars with the same bank. The officials are upset because the exchange rate is much lower than that offered by the bank.

Pakistan has threatened to do the same with Indian diplomats and officials in Islamabad if the ministry doesn’t get the bank to remove the conditions immediately.

Senior Indian officials denied that there was any specific move against the Pakistani mission.

By arrangement with the Times of India

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2016

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.