When the automated teller machines died
Thousands of flood-affected people unable to get money due to non-functional ATMs.
SWAT:
Thousands of flood-affected people, with Watan Cards in their hands, walk into an automated teller machine (ATM) booth every day in Mingora, Swat, only to come back out moments later, but without any cash.
Nearly all ATMs installed in banks in Swat are out-of-order.
“It was the toughest job to get this smart card. Going through assessment, registration, and verification
processes was not easy, but now the ATMs don’t work,” a person outside a bank in Mingora told The Express Tribune.
Each Watan Card is good for Rs20,000 and can be used in ATMs all over the country.
The man added, “The guards outside the bank do not even let us enter the bank when they see these cards in our hands.”
Ramzan Ali, an elderly man standing outside the ATM booth told The Express Tribune, “I have been coming for three days straight now. Every time the ATM is out-of-order. I think they have deliberately shut-down the machines.”
Many flood-affected people in Swat are of the opinion that the government should make the process of disbursing cash easier. They said the government should direct banks to fix the ATMs or find some other way to give cash to them.
“The government is just making fun of us. If it is
sincere about compensation amount, it should simply give the money directly to us.” one of the Watan Card beneficiaries said scornfully.
He added, “Most of us have come from far-flung areas. We spent a lot of money to come here. We also lost our daily wages to come here.”
Regular bank customers have also been affected by the non-functioning ATMs, which is disrupting routine life in the city. Many people interviewed said they had gotten used to the convenience of an ATM.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 28th, 2010.
Thousands of flood-affected people, with Watan Cards in their hands, walk into an automated teller machine (ATM) booth every day in Mingora, Swat, only to come back out moments later, but without any cash.
Nearly all ATMs installed in banks in Swat are out-of-order.
“It was the toughest job to get this smart card. Going through assessment, registration, and verification
processes was not easy, but now the ATMs don’t work,” a person outside a bank in Mingora told The Express Tribune.
Each Watan Card is good for Rs20,000 and can be used in ATMs all over the country.
The man added, “The guards outside the bank do not even let us enter the bank when they see these cards in our hands.”
Ramzan Ali, an elderly man standing outside the ATM booth told The Express Tribune, “I have been coming for three days straight now. Every time the ATM is out-of-order. I think they have deliberately shut-down the machines.”
Many flood-affected people in Swat are of the opinion that the government should make the process of disbursing cash easier. They said the government should direct banks to fix the ATMs or find some other way to give cash to them.
“The government is just making fun of us. If it is
sincere about compensation amount, it should simply give the money directly to us.” one of the Watan Card beneficiaries said scornfully.
He added, “Most of us have come from far-flung areas. We spent a lot of money to come here. We also lost our daily wages to come here.”
Regular bank customers have also been affected by the non-functioning ATMs, which is disrupting routine life in the city. Many people interviewed said they had gotten used to the convenience of an ATM.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 28th, 2010.