KARACHI, Nov 2: The State Bank has allowed all banks to open accounts of earthquake affected people without computerized national identity card (CNIC) to get relief being provided by the government, but adds that this will be the one time exemption.

The SBP on Wednesday issued a circular carrying instructions for all banks regarding the opening of accounts.

The government of Pakistan has started payment of relief cheques through the Earthquake Relief Commission. The cheques issued by the commission to such people are crossed cheques “A/C payee only”.

“In order to facilitate the opening of accounts by the affected persons, the banks can open these accounts for the payment of compensation, as a special case, even if CNIC and other identification documents are not available with the affected persons,” said the SBP circular.

Accounts of major (age 18 years and above) individual can be opened with identification, introduction and verification by a relief commissioner or authorized officials along with duly attested or identified photograph.

In addition to this, the introduction or verification on account opening forms can also be done by any two of the Patwari of the area, member of union counsel, any government official, post master or postman, member of legislative assembly, and any other elected representative of the area.

Accounts of minors, who are left without any guardians due to deaths, can be opened with identification or verification by the relief commissioner or authorized officials with duly attested or identified photograph.

The SBP says that no other instruments, except crossed cheque issued by the relief commissioner, can be deposited in such accounts.

“The above instructions are one time exemption allowed only to facilitate payments to the people of the earthquake affected areas and will cease to exist on June 30, 2006. Fresh accounts can then be opened by following the procedure of account opening,” said the SBP circular.