'NBP to open new branch in M-3 Industrial Estate'

National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) has chalked out a strategy to provide liberal finances to the trade and industry with a clear objective to kick-start the economic activities in the country. This was disclosed by Muddassir H Khan, SEVP/ Group Chief, Commercial and Retail Banking Group NBP, while addressing a meeting of industrialists and exporters at FCCI here on Thursday. He said NBP had decided to open a new branch in M-3 Industrial Estate to cater to the need of local industry in that mega project.
Regarding improvement and up-gradation of IT system in NBP, he said all 1,370 branches had been made on line while in March 2016; every branch would have an ATM to ensure speedy payment of cash to the accounts holders. He further said that under up-gradation process, the number of ATM machines had already been enhanced from 300 to 800, adding similarly, the number of NBP agents had also been increased to 150,000.
He said NBP had sufficient funds which would be doled out to the needy industrialists and in that connection, the NBP officials would now, make regular visits to FCCI to evaluate the needs of the industrial sector and take appropriate measures to fulfil their demand.
Responding to a question, he said NBP had always focused on SME sector but it was very strange that 1,750 SMEs had filed cases requesting re-scheduling and re-structuring of their loans. He requested that FCCI should discourage this tendency and help NBP to recover these loans which could be disbursed among the potential investors.
Regarding facilitation of pensioners, he said pensions were being transferred to the accounts of pensioners from where they could get cash in accordance to their needs and requirements. Similarly, six facilitation centre save also been set up with 6-7 ATM in each Facilitation Centre enabling pensioners to get cash without any hassle, he added. SEVP Wajahat A Baqai said NBP was already re-scheduling the loans granted to the small units so that they could be revived and play their role in national economy, adding NBP was already ready to dole out loans to the power loom sector and also for power generation. He said as the mark-up rate is very low, hence the industrialists should avail this facility without any delay.