KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) will observe five days working in a week, according to a notification issued on Friday.
The SBP will observe following working days and timings with immediate effect:
Monday to Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with prayer/ lunch break from 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. whereas on Friday office hours will be from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with prayer/lunch break from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
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Banks / Microfinance Banks (MFBs) may prescribe business (banking) hours for public dealing as per their business requirements provided the business (banking) hours being observed by the field offices of SBP Banking Services Corporation (SBP-BSC) are complied with as a minimum benchmark for this purpose.
The central bank said, in order to ensure the availability of basic banking facilities to business community and public at large, banks / MFBs may open their selected branches situated in major cities / business centers / commercial markets & hubs / ports etc. on Saturdays as per their business requirements.
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The collection booths of banks located at Custom Houses / Ports shall remain open 24/7 as per existing practice. However, banks / MFBs shall submit a complete list of branches that will be opened on Saturdays to the Banking Policy & Regulations Department and also place the updated list of such branches on their websites. For the information of customers, banks / MFBs shall prominently display in the concerned branch that this branch will remain open on Saturdays.
The above instructions shall continue to remain in force unless modified or withdrawn.
Previously, on April 13, 2022 the SBP issued timings for six-day working week.
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The SBP had issued new banking timings after federal government’s announcement of six days working in a week.
The SBP in a statement said that as per decision of the Federal Government the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) will observe six days working week with the following office hours during the month of Ramadan-ul-Mubarak, which shall also be followed by all banks, Development Finance Institutions and Microfinance Banks:
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Monday to Thursday and Saturday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm with prayer break from 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm whereas on Fridays office hours will be from 8.00 am to 1:00 pm without break.
Banks / Microfinance banks are further advised to observe the following minimum business (banking) hours for public dealing:
Monday to Thursday and Saturday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm without prayer break whereas on Fridays office hours will be from 8.00 am to 12:00 pm without break.
