KARACHI: Over 135 per cent increase has been observed in the number of complaints lodged with the Banking Mohtasib Pakistan against the alleged frauds, forgeries and other irregularities during the first quarter of calendar 2021 as compared to the same period of last year.

The First Quarterly Newsletter of the Banking Mohtasib Pakistan published on Friday stated that almost 11,732 complaints were received by the Banking Mohtasib Secretariat during January-March 2021 against 4,994 complaints received in the same period last year.

These also include 7,595 complaints received on Prime Minister’s portal relating to banking issues as compared to 1,411 complaints received during the first quarter of previous year ie 2020.

Out of the total, 5,375 complaints were received in March only, the highest number recorded in a single month since the inception of Banking Mohtasib Pakistan Office in 2005.

The increase in the number of complaints indicates that the general public feels that their genuine grievances will be resolved amicably by the Banking Mohtasib Office.

The Mohtasib secretariat disposed of 4,672 complaints providing Rs132.62 million relief during January-March 2021 out of which only 2pc of complaints were resolved through formal orders while remaining 98pc of complaints was resolved amicably.

Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2021