Syed Khadim Ali Shah's letter (BR, July 14) has encouraged me to use the space of your column to express my grievance against the inefficiency of Allied Bank of Pakistan. On April 19, 2006, I mailed a letter addressed to the President of the Allied Bank in Karachi seeking relief from overcharging in the issuance of a cheque book.
As there was no response to my communication, I sent another letter on June 21, again via urgent mail service, requesting a response to my query/complaint. A couple of weeks ago I received a letter signed by an AVP of the bank (from Karachi) stating that the matter had been referred to ABL Regional Office in Lahore.
The most regrettable aspect of the episode is that a matter which could have been decided (yes or no) in five minutes has taken the top hierarchy of the bank about three months and the amount involved is pretty small. Why the management of the Allied Bank has dragged its feet, beats my imagination. In my communication addressed to the President of ABL (by name) I apprised him of my long association with his bank and that I have been keeping a large amount in my current account. In my letters I requested relief in the amount of Rs 250 only.
What kind of efficiency is this that even a period of three months has not sufficed to prompt the management of ABL to decide this or that way about a matter that could have been disposed of at best within a week.