Despite the central bank's clear-cut instructions, the customers are facing severe difficulties in withdrawing cash money from ATMs ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Three weeks earlier the central bank had issued the operational guidelines to all commercial banks to further enhance the functioning of the automated-teller machines (ATMs) to provide secured environment so that consumers could get their money during seven days a week on 24 hours basis.
Just before of Eid-ul-Fitr, as people begin to withdraw money through such facilities have come to know that these machines are struck with technical problems like money shortages, system collapse, unavailability of helpline services and unsecured locations.
The frequent problems, which the people face while using ATMs are the unavailability of money and going these online machines offline even in early hours. The major problem is being faced at the ATMs installed in or near the shopping plazas, markets particularly at Sadar, Tariq Road, Hyderi, Clifton, M A Jinnah Road, Zamzama Street, Liquatabad, F B Area and some other markets.
The banks despite the central bank instructions have not made arrangements for 24/7 cash money presence in ATMs as consumers continued to face severe problem due to unavailability of money late on Saturday evening. Some banks have made changes in ATMs for Eid by allocating fixed amount for withdrawal, which further creates cash money withdrawal problems for people.
The major problem is being faced in the ATMs of small banks, while the performance of leading banks are not satisfactory. However, the bank unavailability of cash is witnessed in all ATMs.
ATM of side bank at Golden Gate North Nazimabad, I I Chundrigar Road and Auto Part Market near Tibet Centre are in working condition but not issuing cash and showing message "sorry for inconvenience, temporary unable to pay cash." Now one is compelled to use other bank ATM and pay service charges on withdrawal of cash.
One complainant said: "I have decided to launch my complaint with central bank. However, it is the second issue and presently I need cash to do Eid shopping." "Presently, one day is left in the Eid and this is the situation of the ATMs. Therefore, it is expected that in the Eid holidays ATMs would completely be unoperational or out of cash," Mansoor said.
Central bank instructed to the banks that they should introduce 24/7 helpline to resolve the day-to-day operational issues at ATMs and the helpline should also be accessible through special phone terminals placed inside all ATM booths/cabins, and banks should ensure that these phones are in working order.
However, still helpline instruction has not been fulfilled by the banks, and it has been observed that not a single ATM booth has the facility of phone to register complaints. Customers have requested that the banks should take penal action under the Payment Systems and Electronic Fund Transfer Act 2007 against the banks for not properly working these machines ahead of national events like Eid.
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