It is no denying the fact that Digitalization has facilitated people in all walks of life in the 21st century. Banking Sector is also blessed with many online services across the world. A large number of Banks are delivering online services including ATM Services (automated teller machines). It allows a person to check account balances, withdraw or deposit money, print a statement of account activities or transactions, and even purchase stamps.
It is regret to apprise that Shikarpur, City of Sindh Province is deprived of such services which are really a blessing in disguise for the common man in the contemporary world. It has been observed that most banks fail to provide their ATM Services to customers every new month. Peoples have to wait in a long queue to check their ATM Cards for withdrawal of their salary or even monthly stipend of BISP (Benazir Income Support Programme). They face troubles only just for the withdrawal of their desired cash from ATM machines. After the failure at one bank’s ATM booth, they need to try another one’s service; in this way, they waste a lot of time and energy in checking the ATM services of various banks located in Shikarpur city.
Most of the employees fail to get their monthly salary on time which results in economic issues such as paying utility bills, fees for school-going children, and other debit payments for household commodities. It is a matter of great concern that people in Shikarpur city has no longer access to ATM services despite the fact that the city is blessed with more than 5 private banks including 2 public banks.
To Sum up, it is a need of the hour that the government chalks out effective strategies to ensure the access of ATM Services to customers in every corner of the City so that the common man can enjoy the blessing of the Technological era by having banking services all the time.
The writer is a civil servant.
