KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and all the commercial banks would be observing Saturday and Sunday as weekly holidays from October 15, while few branches located in the commercial centres would remain open on Saturday as well, Geo news reported.

SBP handout issued here said that the Central Bank and all the commercial banks would remain open five days a week, following the federal government’s announcement of two days a week holidays in the government and semi-government organizations under a vigorous energy saving campaign.

The handout further said that the banking hours for Monday-Thursday would be 9.00 A.M. to 5.00 P.M., while on Friday the transactions in banks would continue up to 6.00 P.M.

According to the Central Bank, some bank branches in the commercial areas would remain open on Saturday with prior permission of the Central Bank.

The people in reaction said that drawing cash from the ATMs of the banks had already been a great hassle for them and now two-day a week banks’ holidays would further add to their miseries.

The industrialists said that the two days a week holiday for the banks would be adversely affecting the exports as well as the imports of the country.