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Bank counters jam packed on first working day of 2000

ISLAMABAD: The bank counters remained jam packed all over the country on Monday, also the first working day of the year and pay-day for government and private sector employees.

The cash counters of almost all branches remained opened after normal business hours of the banks to pay salaries to employees so that they could make preparations for Eid-ul-Fitr.

"We have opened additional cash counter at our branch to speed up payments," a bank manager at Aabpara market told APP.

Long queues were witnessed at all branches in the city and people had to stand for hours to get their cheques chased.

The bank employees said that the two holidays on December 31, 1999 and January 1, 2000 and piled up their work and now they have to work extra hours to cater to their customers.

Despite the modern facilities of ATMs (Auto-Teller Machines) or electronic cash dispensers outlets offered by several banks, the rush at cashiers' counters is not decreasing.

If banks can manage several ATMs at their branches and keep them working as well, people will not face problems as they can get cash after office hours and on the weekends as well. APP