The State Bank of Pakistan has formally instructed commercial banking institutions across the country to keep their designated branches fully operational over the weekend of May 23 and 24, 2026. This regulatory directive was put in motion following an explicit request from the Federal Board of Revenue, aiming to provide taxpayers with maximum administrative flexibility to execute over-the-counter payments of government duties and vital fiscal taxes. The temporary structural shift underscores the state’s ongoing push to maximize revenue mobilization and meet seasonal collection targets by removing standard weekend operational barriers.
According to the official communication released by the apex bank, the weekend operational mandate covers all commercial banking entities, including designated branches of the National Bank of Pakistan that are specifically tasked with handling complex customs collection procedures. By opening these specialized customs-focused banking hubs on both Saturday and Sunday, the state aims to prevent any logistical bottlenecks at major trade ports, allowing commercial importers and manufacturing units to clear their inbound shipments without facing unnecessary delays due to typical bank holiday closures.
In addition to standard counter services, the central bank has advised commercial institutions to keep their relevant clearing branches open throughout Sunday for as long as necessary. This extended window is required to directly facilitate the Special Clearing operations for federal and provincial government financial transactions, which are managed electronically through the National Industrial Flux Technologies network. This backend synchronization ensures that all fiscal instruments and tax checks collected over the counter during the weekend are processed and credited to the state treasury in real-time, preventing any artificial liquidity lags on the state’s balance sheet.
Recognizing that physical branch visits might not be optimal for all segments of the taxpaying public, the central bank’s directive places equal emphasis on digital payment infrastructure. Commercial banks are strictly required to ensure the absolute, uninterrupted availability of all primary online financial channels throughout the weekend. This operational mandate spans across internet banking web portals, consumer-facing mobile smartphone applications, nationwide automated teller machine networks, and specialized online payment gateways. By keeping these digital systems running smoothly, the financial regulator is ensuring that individuals and corporate entities can seamlessly clear their tax liabilities remotely, minimizing the physical footprint inside bank branches while maintaining the velocity of national revenue collection.
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