Several Pakistani banks suspend international transactions

Six Pakistani banks have suspended international transactions though debit cards.

In a text message sent to customers, the banks informed, “As a security precaution your debit card has been temporarily disabled only for international ATM cash withdrawal.”

Customers can use their debit cards for local transactions.

Last week, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) had issued instructions regarding bank cards after a cyber-attack on Bank Islami Pakistan.

According to SBP, the use of the bank’s cards had been temporarily suspended for overseas transactions after the attack. “As a result of security breach of payment cards of one of the banks in Pakistan yesterday and their unauthorized use on different delivery channels i.e. at ATMs and POS in different countries, the bank has temporarily restricted usage of its cards for overseas transactions,” the central bank had said in a statement.

The SBP had further issued directives to all Pakistani banks to ensure security of payment cards and to monitor their usage activity, especially overseas transactions, on a real-time basis.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) had on Monday issued instructions regarding bank cards after a cyber-attack on BankIslami Pakistan.

According to SBP, the use of cards has been suspended internationally after the card used was attacked by hackers.

“Bank card was used in different ATM’s and Point of Seal,” the SBP said adding, “Investigation should be done into the attack and the system should be made better.”

SBP further directed the affected bank to release necessary instructions for its customers while advising other banks to monitor the use of cards in real time.