The Office of the Banking Mohtasib Pakistan has provided financial relief amounting to 762.76 million rupees to banking consumers during the first six months of 2026, following the successful resolution of 18,482 formal complaints filed against commercial banking institutions operating across the country. The statutory banking ombudsman institution continues to play a vital supervisory and dispute resolution role, protecting consumer rights and ensuring institutional accountability across the financial sector. The milestone reflects an intensified institutional drive to clear backlogs and offer swift, non-judicial remedies to account holders affected by banking disputes, operational inefficiencies, and unauthorized transactions.
During the period spanning January to June 2026, the Banking Mohtasib recorded a sharp uptick in consumer grievance submissions. The office received 21,392 new complaints, representing a significant 26.5 percent surge compared to the 16,915 complaints logged during the corresponding six-month period of the previous year. Out of the total new grievances registered on the official roster, 4,005 complaints were transmitted directly through the Prime Minister’s Performance Delivery Unit and dedicated public portal, highlighting the increasing public reliance on integrated official grievance channels to address banking sector grievances.
Addressing the rising volume of consumer grievances, Banking Mohtasib Sirajuddin Aziz issued an urgent advisory urging bank account holders to maintain strict personal vigilance against sophisticated financial fraud, social engineering tactics, and digital phishing attempts. Aziz emphasized that consumer awareness remains the first line of defense against unauthorized account access, cautioning individuals never to share sensitive personal details, internet banking credentials, personal identification numbers, or one-time verification passwords with unverified third parties under any circumstances.
The Banking Mohtasib specifically warned the public about evolving tactics employed by financial fraudsters, particularly regarding spoofed phone calls masquerading as official communications from banking institutions. Aziz clarified that commercial bank call centers and official helplines do not make outbound calls to customers asking for personal or security credentials. Consequently, consumers receiving incoming phone calls that display a bank’s official Universal Access Number on their mobile screens should treat such calls as potentially fraudulent and immediately disconnect. Customers encountering suspicious activity or unexpected calls are advised to proactively contact their official bank branch or call the institution’s verified helpline independently to report potential security threats.
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