NBP in Chitral needs proper space

E-Paper | June 12, 2026

THIS refers to the NBP branch in Chitral. The bank’s branch had its own double-story building on purchased land.

In November 2011, the provincial government acquired the building for a bypass road on the understanding that the government will acquire alternative land for the bank within three months. After a lapse of one year, no alternative land was acquired.

In November 2012 the NBP was forcibly vacated. Now the government treasury and the NBP are housed in the upper story of a tiny shop and the strong room is housed in a cabin.The NBP’s Chitral branch is catering to the needs of 31 branches of nine scheduled banks in the district. The NBP’s Chitral branch has a record of 9,000 account-holders, 10,000 government pensioners and 1,200 EOBI pension-holders. It is a pity that an important bank such as the NBP gives a look of an IDP camp in Chitral.

The senior authorities of the State Bank of Pakistan and the NBP are requested to look into the matter and provide a proper building to the bank which can ensure safety as well as grandeur.

DR INAYAT ULLAH FAIZI Danin, Chitral

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Wg Cdr (r) Fardad Ali Shah

Dec 25, 2012 12:27pm

No doubt NBP in Chitral, like every bank should have it's own premise. However the statement in this context by Dr Inayatullah Faizi, saying "Now the government treasury and the NBP are housed in the upper story of a tiny shop and the strong room is housed in a cabin" is far from truth. In fact the NBP is housed on the entire first floor of a prime market adjacent to the demolished old bank building. The present NBP premise area is 5500 sq ft, which I think cannot be called 'a tiny shop' by any standard. The banking hall and waiting area are much more spacious than the previous premises which is appreciated by hundreds of users every day. The government treasury is housed in a 700 Sq ft solid concrete structure on the ground floor beneath the banking hall, the safest possible arrangement possible any where, and not a 'cabin' as observed by the worthy doctor sahib. I suggest he make a visit to the premise and if he has done it before, do it again, with an open heart, and if need be, write again. -- Wg Cdr (r) Fardad Ali Shah, Chitral.

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