Money isn't everything

Narendra Modi govt has moved fast to resolve the currency squeeze that some of the embassies and high commissions had faced after demonetization

The Narendra Modi government has moved fast to resolve the currency squeeze that some of the embassies and high commissions had faced after demonetisation. The Pakistan High Commission was upset that its staffers were not being allowed by the bank to withdraw their salaries in US dollars, as is the norm. The Russians were frustrated for being allocated a mere Rs 50,000 per week to run their mission. Neither are complaining any more. While most missions in New Delhi are serviced by either public sector or big private sector banks, the Pakistanis are stuck with one of the smaller private banks, which is headquartered in Maharashtra and has a limited number of branches. They say none of the bigger private and public sector banks have been willing to cater to the mission and its consulates, pointing to the uncertainty in India-Pakistan bilateral relations. Money, at least in this case, isn’t everything.