In
order to introduce enabling technologies in the financial
sector of Pakistan to promote E-Commerce, the Government of
Pakistan has developed a strategy towards the automation of
payment system in the financial sector with the assistance
of ECH Task Force. This Task Force, constituted by the State
Bank of Pakistan, is part of the E-Commerce Working Group
developed by the Ministry of Science & Technology, to
establish guidelines, policies and implementation of projects
for the promotion of E-Commerce in Pakistan.
As a first step, in support of this strategy and to
bring efficiency in the Payment Systems of Pakistan’s financial
sector, as also to facilitate the consumers by providing them
access to their funds
through the existing two ATM Switch Networks operated and
managed by Muslim Commercial Bank (M-Net) and ABN AMRO Bank
(Shared ATM Switch Network), it has been decided that all
scheduled banks, which are not currently connected to either
of the two Switches should join or come to an agreement with
any of the two Switch system latest by December 31, 2002.
These
two ATM Switches are also in the process of being connected
to each other, which will subsequently allow their mutual
customers and their existing member bank customers to have
access to over 250 ATMs (combined) throughout Pakistan.
The
banks, which are not currently part of either of the two switch
system, should contact the under mentioned representatives.
They should also provide a summary plan to the State Bank
latest by October 31, 2002, interalia, including the target
date by which the bank will be connected online with either of the two Switches along with identification
of the major milestones, as also limitations, concerns and
assistance required by them. The banks should further ensure
that their systems must be connected online to either of the
two Switches by June 30, 2003.
Furthermore,
those banks, which have ATM networks of their own but are
not a member of either of these two Switches, will also be
able to add their respective ATMs on to the Switch network,
which will consequently increase the overall ATM coverage.
The
existing Switches or third-party solution providers can be
opted to facilitate connectivity for those banks, which are
not yet connected to either of the two switches or are operating
their network independently.
As
a further measure to reduce the start-up cost of joining the
switches and managing the issuance of cards, such banks can
also opt to outsource the card production services to either
of the two switches or to a third-party.
For
further information please directly contact the representatives
of the individual switches on the following addresses:
M-Net
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ATM
Switch Network |
Muslim
Commercial Bank Limited
Mr.
Aarij Ali
Head
of Consumer Banking
1st
Floor, SST Building,
Beaumont
Road
Karachi
Tel:
(021) 565-1367
Fax:
(021) 565-1360
E-mail:
[email protected] |
ABN
AMRO Bank N.V.
Mir
Nejib Rahman
Vice
President
Head
of Consumer Loans & E-Business
16,
Abdullah Haroon Road
Karachi
74000
Tel:
(021) 111 1122 33 Ext. 2603
Fax:
(021) 568-3432
E-mail:
[email protected]
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