Pakistan central bank orders banks to stop freezing accounts without legal approval

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has directed all banks and microfinance banks not to impose debit blocks, operational restrictions or freeze customer accounts without legal authority, proper approval and due verification, following directions from the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

In an official communication dated June 15, 2026, the central bank instructed the chief compliance officers of all banks to ensure that any restriction on a customer's account is imposed strictly in accordance with the law and only after obtaining lawful authorization and completing due verification procedures.

The directive, issued in compliance with an Islamabad High Court order dated June 2, 2026, instructed banks not to impose any debit block, operational restriction or account freeze except as permitted by law.

Internal compliance mechanisms

The SBP also directed banks to establish appropriate internal compliance mechanisms to ensure that inadvertent or precautionary restrictions unsupported by legal authority do not unnecessarily prejudice or harm account holders.

The central bank said any action affecting a citizen's bank account must be supported by legal authority and proper verification before it is implemented.

Banks were also instructed to acknowledge receipt of the SBP's directives before the Islamabad High Court and notify the central bank via email.

Court directions

According to court proceedings, the Islamabad High Court restrained banks from blocking customer accounts without legal authority or approval from the competent authority.

Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir directed the SBP to develop an internal compliance mechanism and issue the necessary instructions to banks to ensure compliance with the court's order.

The SBP has since submitted its compliance report to the Islamabad High Court, confirming that it has issued fresh instructions to banks nationwide to implement the court's directives.