I RECENTLY visited a bank in Turbat for an online deposit in one of its Karachi branches. After filling the deposit slip, I went to the cashier. I had some 10 rupee notes but the cashier told me that the bank would not accept these notes. I was shocked.

On being asked the reason, he told me that the one who would receive money in the Karachi branch would not accept these notes. This ‘logic’ was a shock for me. I wondered if these notes were Pakistani currency.

When I insisted on depositing the money, he told me that since the State Bank of Pakistan was not in Turbat therefore he could not accept either. I was surprised to hear this.

I wonder if the SBP has really ordered banks not to accept 10-rupee notes or perhaps bank staff do not accept these notes to avoid counting so many bills.

Whatever may be the case, the question remains: where should a customer go with 10-rupee notes? Isn’t it the responsibility of the banks to accept currency notes of all denominations?

The SPB should clarify the issue.

Shehzad Baloch

Turbat

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2020