Karachi, January 30, 2026 — The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday directed all commercial banks to facilitate tax collection by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) by observing extended working hours on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
According to the SBP, the decision was taken at the request of the FBR to assist taxpayers in making over-the-counter (OTC) payments of government duties and taxes. All Saturday-opening branches of commercial banks, including National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) branches handling customs collections, will remain open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the specified date.
The central bank further advised banks to keep their relevant branches operational for as long as required to facilitate special clearing of government transactions conducted through the National Institutional Facilitation Technologies (NIFT). Banks have also been instructed to ensure uninterrupted availability of digital payment channels, including internet banking, mobile applications, ATMs, and other online platforms, to enable smooth payment of government taxes and duties.
Earlier, on January 28, the FBR directed all Inland Revenue (IR) field formations to keep their collection counters open on Saturday, January 31, 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen revenue collection towards the close of the month.
Although Saturdays are typically observed as a weekly holiday by Inland Revenue offices, the FBR has temporarily suspended the closure to facilitate taxpayers and meet ongoing revenue targets. Under official instructions, all major tax offices—including Large Taxpayers Offices (LTOs), Medium Tax Offices (MTOs), Corporate Tax Offices (CTOs), and Regional Tax Offices (RTOs)—will observe normal working hours on that day.
The FBR stated that the move would ease last-minute pressure on taxpayers and improve cash inflows for the national exchequer. Tax officials have been directed to ensure full staff availability and smooth operations to avoid inconvenience, while taxpayers have been urged to utilize the extended facility to complete their tax obligations within the prescribed timeframe.