KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has officially issued the revised schedule for office and public dealing hours for the holy month of Ramadan 1447 A.H. According to a circular issued on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, all commercial banks, development finance institutions (DFIs), and microfinance banks will observe shortened timings to facilitate the public and staff during the fasting month. The central bank also confirmed that the first day of Ramadan (Thursday, February 19) will be a “Bank Holiday,” during which all branches will remain closed for public dealing to facilitate the deduction of Zakat.
Revised Public Dealing & Office Timings
Under the new notification, the window for public transactions has been compressed. For the duration of Ramadan, banks will operate without a lunch or prayer break to ensure continuous service during the limited hours.
| Day | Public Dealing (Business Hours) | Office Working Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday | 09:00 AM to 02:00 PM | 09:00 AM to 03:00 PM |
| Friday | 09:00 AM to 12:30 PM | 09:00 AM to 12:30 PM |
The SBP emphasized that these timings are to be followed strictly across the banking sector. Once the holy month concludes, the hours will automatically revert to the standard pre-Ramadan schedule.
Zakat Deduction and Bank Holiday Details
For 2026, the SBP has set the Nisab for Zakat at Rs. 503,529. On the 1st of Ramadan, banks will remain closed to the public specifically to process these deductions from saving accounts, profit-and-loss sharing (PLS) accounts, and similar financial products. While the doors will be closed to customers on Thursday, bank employees are required to attend the office as a normal working day to complete the back-end processing.
Impact on Digital Banking and ATMs
With the reduction in physical branch hours, financial experts are encouraging citizens to utilize Digital Banking and Mobile Apps for routine tasks such as bill payments and fund transfers. The SBP has directed all banks to ensure that ATMs remain functional and “high-uptime” is maintained throughout the month, particularly during the evening hours and weekends, to avoid any inconvenience to the public.
Customer Advisory: To avoid the midday rush, customers are advised to visit branches early in the morning, as the 2:00 PM cutoff for public dealing will be strictly enforced.
