Pakistan is home to the world’s highest automated teller machine (ATM), installed by the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) at Khunjerab Pass in Gilgit Baltistan. The ATM stands 4,693 meters, or around 15,396 feet, above sea level near the Pakistan China border. Guinness World Records officially recognizes it as the highest altitude ATM in the world.
The ATM was opened to the public on September 6, 2016, while the Guinness record was officially achieved on November 18, 2016. It was installed to provide banking services to tourists, residents, border personnel and people involved in business activities in the remote area.
Running an ATM at such a high and cold location is difficult. NBP designed the facility to work in extreme weather and uses solar and wind energy to power the machine, making it a green energy project.
The ATM is located along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor route and has become an unusual attraction for visitors travelling to Khunjerab Pass. Its installation also highlights the effort to provide basic banking services in some of Pakistan’s most remote areas.
