Commercial bank branches will remain open late to help taxpayers complete government duty and tax payments before the deadline.
Commercial banks across Pakistan will observe extended working hours on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, to facilitate taxpayers in making payments of government duties and taxes. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has directed all commercial bank branches to remain operational until 10:00 PM on the day.
The decision was announced by the central bank on Tuesday following a request from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The extended schedule is intended to provide taxpayers with additional time to make over-the-counter (OTC) payments of government duties and taxes through commercial bank branches.
Under the SBP instructions, all branches of commercial banks will continue their operations until 10:00 PM on September 30. The move is aimed at ensuring that taxpayers facing the end-of-month payment deadline have sufficient access to banking services.
Along with extending physical banking hours, the SBP has instructed banks to maintain uninterrupted availability of their digital payment channels. Customers will therefore be able to use internet banking, mobile banking applications, ATMs and other online platforms to complete government-related payments.
The central bank has also issued instructions concerning the processing of government transactions through the National Institutional Facilitation Technologies (NIFT) system. Banks have been advised to keep their relevant branches open on September 30 for as long as necessary to support the special clearing arrangements for government transactions conducted by NIFT.
The extended banking schedule is expected to help reduce difficulties for taxpayers who need to settle government dues on the final day of the payment period. Both branch-based and digital banking facilities will remain available to support timely completion of transactions.
The latest directive highlights coordination between the SBP, FBR and commercial banks to ensure smooth collection and processing of government revenues. Taxpayers intending to make OTC payments have been advised to take advantage of the extended branch timings, while those using digital channels can continue making payments through available online banking services.