I HAD a frustrating experience recently at a commercial bank owned and operated by the government. When I visited the bank’s branch on Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road (Code 0223) to get my account opened for routing salary transfer, the staff there told me rather rudely that “the madam who opens accounts” was on leave for 15 days, and that the process could be initiated only after her return to work.

When I insisted that there may be some other way to keep the branch functional in the absence of one employee, a staff member simply asked me to come later because, in his words, “there is no use arguing with us”. Frustrated by such unprofessional behaviour, I had no option, but to leave the branch. My wait for “the madam who opens accounts” is still continuing.

It seemed quite unusual for a bank to have only one staff member responsible for any single assignment without having an alternative arrangement. If the cashier goes on leave, will the bank stop disbursing cash to its customers?

A particular staff member could be on leave, but relying on a single person for an essential service does not make sense. But, unfortunately, it made perfect sense to the staff at the branch concerned. I can only hope that the relevant autho-rities will look into the matter and do something that may enable banks and their staff to defy common sense.

Waqas Ali
Karachi

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2025