Banks and FBR Offices Open Till 8pm Today, October 31: SBP Order, Branches and What to Do
Karachi, Oct 31, 2026 — If you still have a government duty or tax payment to make, today is the day to get it done in person: the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has ordered designated bank branches across the country to stay open until 8:00pm on Saturday, October 31, 2026, and the Federal Board…
Karachi, Oct 31, 2026 — If you still have a government duty or tax payment to make, today is the day to get it done in person: the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has ordered designated bank branches across the country to stay open until 8:00pm on Saturday, October 31, 2026, and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has separately extended working hours at its major tax offices to 8:00pm today. The extended hours apply to the last day of the month, when government collections close, and they are aimed at taxpayers who pay over the counter rather than online.
Key facts: banks and FBR offices open till 8pm today
| Detail | Confirmed position |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, October 31, 2026 — the last day of the month |
| Bank branches covered | Only the designated Saturday-opening branches of all commercial banks, open till 8:00pm |
| Who ordered it | State Bank of Pakistan, on the request of the Federal Board of Revenue (statement issued Thursday, October 29) |
| What can be paid | Over-the-counter (OTC) payment of government duties and taxes |
| FBR offices | Large Taxpayer Offices (LTOs), Corporate Tax Offices (CTOs) and Regional Tax Offices (RTOs) open till 8:00pm today, under a formal FBR notification |
| Cheque clearing | Special NIFT clearing for government receipts; concerned branches stay open as long as required for it |
| Digital channels | Internet banking, mobile banking apps, ATMs and other digital platforms to remain available without interruption |
| Not covered | Branches that do not normally open on Saturdays — they are not required to open today |
| Normal hours resume | Monday, November 2, 2026 |
What the State Bank actually ordered
The SBP’s instruction is narrower than “all banks open till 8pm” — and that distinction is the one that decides whether your trip is wasted. According to the central bank’s statement, reported by APP on October 29, “only Saturday opening branches of all commercial banks shall remain open till 8:00pm on Saturday, October 31, 2026.” In other words, the order extends the day for branches that already open on Saturdays; it does not force every branch in the country to open on a Saturday.
The reason is straightforward. The arrangement was made at the FBR’s request so that taxpayers can deposit government duties and taxes without a last-minute rush on the final day of the month. October 31 is when the month’s government collections close, so the SBP wants the counters that normally handle Saturday business to keep taking payments well into the evening.
There is a second, less visible part of the order that matters most to businesses. Banks have been advised to keep their concerned branches open on October 31 for as long as required to facilitate the special clearing for government receipts conducted by the National Institutional Facilitation Technologies (NIFT). That means cheques and instruments deposited for tax payments today can be processed the same day instead of waiting for the next working day — a real advantage for firms depositing sales tax, withholding tax or customs duty by cheque.
FBR offices: LTOs, CTOs and RTOs till 8pm too
The FBR has matched the banks with its own extension. Dunya News reported on October 30 that the FBR has directed all Large Taxpayer Offices, Corporate Tax Offices and Regional Tax Offices across Pakistan to remain open until 8:00pm on Saturday, October 31, under a formal notification. So if your visit is to a tax office rather than a bank counter — a pending assessment, a document submission, a query on a notice — the same 8:00pm closing applies at the major offices.
Taken together, the two orders cover both ends of the payment journey: the FBR office where the liability is handled, and the bank branch where the money is deposited. That is why today, unlike an ordinary Saturday, is a genuine last working window for month-end government payments.
What to do before you leave home
First, confirm that your branch is actually a designated Saturday-opening branch. The quickest check is your bank’s own branch locator or helpline — or simply call the branch. A branch that stays closed on Saturdays is not covered by the SBP order, and turning up there at 7:00pm will not help.
Second, carry everything the payment needs in one trip: your payment challan or PSID slip, your CNIC, and, if you are paying by cheque, the cheque book. Counters will be busy in the evening, and an incomplete challan is the most common reason a payment gets pushed to Monday.
Third, if you are paying by cheque for a business tax or duty, try to deposit it as early in the extended window as you can. The NIFT special clearing is the mechanism that gets today’s receipts processed today, and an early deposit gives the branch the most room to include it.
Finally, remember the digital fallback. The SBP has directed banks to keep internet banking, mobile banking apps, ATMs and other digital platforms running without interruption for government duty and tax payments. If you cannot reach a designated branch, an online payment is still an option — but check with your bank whether a payment made after the extended hours is recorded for October 31 or for the next working day, because that recording date can matter for month-end compliance.
What happens after 8pm
Normal banking hours resume from Monday, November 2. Anything not deposited today will therefore be handled as a November transaction, which is exactly what the extended hours are designed to prevent. For taxpayers with a month-end liability, the practical message of today’s order is simple: the counters are open late for a reason, and the reason expires at 8:00pm tonight.
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Frequently asked questions
Are banks open till 8pm today, October 31, 2026?
Yes — but only the designated Saturday-opening branches of commercial banks. Under the State Bank of Pakistan’s order, those branches remain open till 8:00pm today for government duty and tax payments.
Are ALL bank branches open till 8pm today?
No. The SBP order covers only branches that are already designated to open on Saturdays. A branch that normally stays closed on Saturdays is not required to open today, so confirm your branch’s Saturday status before visiting.
What payments can I make at the bank today?
Over-the-counter payment of government duties and taxes — the arrangement was made at the FBR’s request for the last day of the month, when government collections close.
Are FBR offices open till 8pm today as well?
Yes. The FBR has directed all Large Taxpayer Offices (LTOs), Corporate Tax Offices (CTOs) and Regional Tax Offices (RTOs) to remain open until 8:00pm on Saturday, October 31, under a formal notification.
What is the NIFT special clearing mentioned in the SBP order?
NIFT — the National Institutional Facilitation Technologies — runs a special clearing for government receipts. Banks have been advised to keep concerned branches open as long as required so that cheques and instruments deposited for tax payments today are processed the same day.
What if I cannot reach a branch before 8pm?
Use a digital channel: the SBP has directed banks to keep internet banking, mobile apps, ATMs and other digital platforms available without interruption for government payments. Check with your bank whether a late payment is recorded for October 31 or the next working day.
By Bilal Ahmed | October 31, 2026
