Using Auto Teller Machines (ATMs) at different banks of the twin cities of Islamabad-Rawalpindi has become a matter of inconvenience rather than a facility for residents due to faulty machines.
This is particularly observed during the first week of the month when salaried employees have to withdraw money.
Most of the time the ATMs remain out of order or their link is down.
If fortunately, there happens to be a machine in working order, long queues can be seen there as large numbers of people wait their turn to draw money.
When the officials concerned are contacted to trace out the reason behind the machine failure, they often have no satisfactory reply. Instead they say that the customers should go to nearby banks for drawing money where one link facility is available.
“ATMs are considered to be a source of relief for the consumers in need of fast cash but they have in fact become a source of annoyance, particularly on salary days,” said Karim Khan, a government employee. Khan, who had visited ATM kiosks in search of urgent needed cash on Thursday and said he tried several ATM machines in the federal capital but failed to take money.
“Bank authorities seldom pay heed to the complaints of customers. Messages like ‘Out of cash,’ ‘Sorry for inconvenience,’ ‘ATM is closed for maintenance work, ‘Link is down’ ‘Service is not available,’ and ‘your transaction could not be completed due to software problem’ are often seen flashing on the screen of ATMs,” Muhammad Saleem, another employee complained.
He said people from the salaried class are most affected due to non-operating ATMs.
After the introduction of ATM cards, most people, especially the salaried class, use this service for withdrawal to save time and avoid using cheques, he added.
“People have to suffer now as the banks have failed to provide them timely services through ATMs,” he mentioned.
The customers have appealed the authorities concerned to ensure proper maintenance of the ATMs owned by public and private sector banks for the relief of the people, especially the salaried class.
Classical music concert on ‘Shehnai, Naqqara’ tomorrow: Instrumental Ecstasy – a six part series of concerts will hold its fifth concert on classical music of subcontinent here on April 6.
The event is being organised by the Institute for Preservation of Art and Culture (IPAC) and Kuch Khaas, Center for Arts, Culture and Dialogue featuring the instruments ‘Shehnai and Naqqara’ by artists Ata Ullah Malang and Haji Azhar on Shehnai accompanied by Shabeer Hussain on Naqqara and Nazim Hussain Balli on Dhol.
The classical music of the subcontinent is one of the oldest unbroken musical traditions in the world. Its origins go back to the
Vedic Period (roughly 1500 BC to 500 BC).
According to the organisers, in the Indian subcontinent one of the most famous instruments whose presence is particularly essential on any auspicious occasion is the Shehnai.
The sound of the Shehnai is thought to create and maintain a sense of auspiciousness and sanctity, as a result, it is widely used during traditional marriages, processions, and religious ceremonies.
In the past, Shehnai was a part of the Naubat or traditional ensembles of instruments found at royal courts in India. In the royal Mughal courts the Shehnai and the percussion instrument Naqqara were inseparable companions.
“Today both these instruments are extremely rare in Pakistan and we are lucky to have one of the last few traditional Naubat musicians from Multan to perform at this concert,” the organisers said.
