LARKANA:National Bank of Pakistan’s Naundero branch was closed on Wednesday morning for all transactions except ATM after its manager tested positive for novel coronavirus.
Earlier one officer Abdul Razak Katpar of the same branch was tested positive and shifted to Karachi for treatment where he expired. He was also suffering from diabetes and collapsed in the branch while on duty. Over 30 employees of the bank have been directed to get themselves tested for the COVID-19 virus which includes regular and contract employees.
Meanwhile, prior to this, Ratodero branch of the same bank remained sealed for over two weeks when four of its employees were found suffering from COVID-19 viral disease which has claimed 526 lives in Sindh up to 02nd June, 2020. The bank’s Madeji and Hathi Dar branches of Shikarpur also remained closed when coronavirus cases surfaced among the employees.
Well informed sources said that suspected cases have also been reported in another main branch of a private bank Alfalah Sukkur but authorities have taken no measures to close it down which has put precious lives of the employees at high risk. Habib Bank branch, Shahdadkot, has also been closed for fear of suspected cases, sources added. UBL Madeji branch has been closed since Tuesday and ABL Bunder Road Branch of Larkana is also shut for COVID-19 cases, credible sources further added.
It must be mentioned here that employees working in private banks have not yet been provided any monetary relief package despite working amid fear and panic putting their precious lives in danger along with their families. The account holders and the general public consider them as front-line warriors like doctors, nurses, police and revenue staff to keep the economy going. In fact, they are the worst affected people, they said adding they are paid very low monthly salaries, almost all branches are also very under-staffed due to which workload increases on every employee and they are posted in branches which are far away from their homes.
During the lockdown, they suffered very badly at the hands of police and other security officials while traveling to their respective branches to perform their duties in this price hike and poverty era because all kinds of transport was also closed and they paid extra amounts of money to hire taxis.
State Bank of Pakistan and federal finance ministry should take immediate notice of this highhandedness and must investigate into these complaints without loss of further time and dispense justice to them as without these hard workers economic activities will come to standstill and the economy will never grow up.