Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” report that residents of Mary velayat complain that they are allowed to withdraw a maximum of 200 manats a day from ATMs.
The inhabitants of remote villages are mostly affected by the restrictions which have been imposed.They now have to go to the administrative centres where several ATMs are installed, and reserve a place in the queue from early in the morning to be able to withdraw 200 manats a day, or even less.
ATMs run out of cash by midday.
Some residents make arrangements with taxi drivers who head to Mary and Ashgabat to withdraw cash. Taxi drivers charge 10% from the withdrawn amount.
Cash is needed not only in rural areas which have no cash machines available and hence no possibility to pay for various services by credit cards but also in large cities. Few retail outlets are equipped with PDQ machines.
Radio “Azatlyk” has reported about similar restrictions in Lebap velayat.