The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has announced reduced office and business hours for the month of Ramadan.
The SBP issued a statement on Monday outlining the modified timetable that will be followed by all banks, development financial institutions, and microfinance banks (MFBs) throughout the holy month.
During Ramazan, the SBP and related institutions will have office hours from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with a prayer break from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.
On Fridays, the office hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., with no lunch break.
Additionally, banks and MFBs have been recommended to maintain business (banking) hours for public dealing from 9am to 2pm without a break from Monday to Thursday, and from 8:30am to 1pm on Fridays with no break.
According to the announcement, these altered timings would automatically revert to pre-Ramazan schedules once the holy month has passed. The actual start date of Ramadan is determined by the sighting of the moon, which is likely to occur on March 12 or 13.
