GILGIT, June 12: After remaining closed for nine days, since June 3 when curfew was imposed, banks, offices and other private organizations herereopened on Saturday only to close on Sunday.

The northern areas administration on Friday announced in a press note that all the banks and government offices would resume their operations by Saturday as the curfew relaxation was allowed from dawn to dusk on Saturday.

They said the decision was made keeping in view the cash-strapped people in Gilgit as almost all the public sector employees and other semi-government organizations were unable to draw their salaries during the week-long curfew in Gilgit. But a few people were able to turn up on Saturday to collect their salaries and cash as the announcement was made late on Friday night, the sources said.

"Due to closing of the financial year and AGPR in June a large number of officials faced problems in submitting and clearing of their outstanding bills until it was resumed on Saturday.

CURFEW: The authorities allowed a 12-hour relaxation curfew on Saturday (from 7am to 7pm) in the entire municipal limits of Gilgit city in the wake of improving law and order situation.

No report of any untoward incident was reported from any part of the city and a cautious hustle and bustle was seen in the city.

The authorities also allowed plying private and public transport during the curfew hours and a large number of trucks loaded with the edibles managed to enter the city.

Over two dozens students who were studying in Islamabad said they missed their practical examinations as they failed to travel to Islamabad during the curfew in Gilgit as there was no transport available to Rawalpindi.

They appealed to the officials of the federal board for intermediate education to consider their case which would otherwise spoil their academic year.