Banks swamped on payday

ISLAMABAD: As the month ends, many people rushed to their banks to withdraw the freshly credited salaries. This, however, created a rush at the few open bank branches, posing a challenge to implement the social distancing directives issued by the government amidst the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

The rush meant that many had to wait in long queues to withdraw their money.

Government departments and many businesses released salaries to their employees on Monday and many rushed to banks before the curfew came into effect.

At the branches, only some banks effectively implemented the standard operating procedures (SOPs) under which only one person is allowed into the branch at a time after disinfecting themselves by using hand sanitisers while others were queued up outside distantly.

People were seen standing close to each other awaiting their turn at the cashier’s counter. Long queues were also witnessed outside several banks in different areas of the federal capital.

These queues are expected to grow in the coming days as other departments and organisations - public and private - credit salaries into the accounts of their employees.



The people awaiting their turn outside a bank told The Express Tribune said that the few open bank branches are witnessing a rush as people.

They suggested opening additional bank branches to thin out the rush of people concentrating at certain branches.

As organisations credit salaries, the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) has allowed mobile top-up and online mobile wallet shops to open for brief periods during the relaxation in the curfew.

In a notification issued by the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) Deputy Commissioner (DC) Hamza Shafqaat, all such shops will open for four hours for the next three days. The permission, it explained, has been granted to facilitate those people who wanted to transfer money to their families in their native towns and villages.

The notification said that this method was safer than payment transfer through ATMs as the latter was touched by several people and can potentially increase the risk of Covid-19 spreading.

Since these services were available at thousands of shops, it will also prevent long queues of people forming at limited stores. 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2020.