KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has decided to extend the banking hours on March 30 and March 31 2022 to facilitate the collection of government receipts, duties and taxes.

The SBP has decided that the field offices of SBP Banking Services Corporation (SBP-BSC) and authorised branches of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) will observe extended banking hours till 8:00pm and 10:00pm on March 30 and March 31, 2022, respectively.

Accordingly, NIFT has been advised to arrange a special clearing at 8:00pm on March 31, 2022 (Thursday) for the same day clearing of payment instruments.

The central bank advised all banks to keep their concerned branches open on March 31, 2022 (Thursday) till such time that is necessary to facilitate the special clearing for government transactions by the NIFT.