RIZWAN BHATTI

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has asked banks to preserve the video recording of authentication and sorting activities of currency notes at Cash Processing Centers (CPCs) and ATMs feedings for two months.

Under the Currency Management Strategy, banks have already been asked to monitor the entire area of CPCs through high resolution CCTV cameras, which will capture authentication and sorting activities of all dimensions banknotes.

Previously, the banks were asked to keep the CCTV record of CPCs up to 3 months and ATMs feeding cassettes for one month. However, now the SBP, amending the pervious directives, has decided to keep the record for 60 days.

According to FD Circular Letter No. 04/2017, issued on Monday, in order to standardize the existing instructions regarding CCTV record preservation under the Currency Management Strategy and provide clarification regarding use of special uniforms/pocket-less dress, some changes have been made in the strategy.

“Preservation period of CCTV recording, the existing instructions regarding preservation period of video recording shall stand amended and now the preservation period of video recording has been standardized to 60 days for CPCs, cash feeding/standalone branches, and onsite & offsite ATMs. However, in case of any dispute, the recording shall be preserved till the dispute is finally settled,” the circular said.

As per previous directives, the video recording of CCTV cameras of the entire area of CPC capturing authentication and sorting activities from all dimensions will be preserved at least three months for retrieval. The maintenance of record to track the trail of sealing feeding the cassettes in ATMs was for at least one month.

In addition, use of special uniforms/pocket-less dress by note sorting staff, has also been amended and now the requirement of special uniforms/pocket-less dress by note sorting staff and their supervisors at the cash processing places, are applicable for Cash Processing Centers (CPCs) only. As per previous directives, special uniform/pocket-less dress was mandatory for the notes sorting staff and their supervisors at the cash processing places. The SBP in consultation with Pakistan Banks Association (PBA) launched Currency Management Strategy in Aug 2015, aimed at ensuring the availability of machine authenticated good quality banknotes to general public.

The State Bank, in September this year, also introduced new penalty structure and imposed fine up to Rs 0.1 million for noncompliance of instructions of Currency Management Strategy.