State Bank Redesigns Currency Notes, Security Features & Images Inside
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is set to introduce redesigned currency notes for all denominations—PKR 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000, and 5,000—starting in the second half of 2025, likely post-July. This overhaul aims to enhance security, improve durability, and celebrate Pakistan’s cultural identity through fresh, modern designs.
New Design Highlights
The updated designs, finalized via a nationwide art contest in 2024, reflect Pakistan’s rich heritage and diversity. Each denomination will feature iconic elements such as historical landmarks, cultural motifs, and natural landscapes, ensuring a vibrant representation of the nation. International design experts have vetted these designs to meet global aesthetic and technical standards, blending tradition with modernity.
Enhanced Security Features
To counter counterfeiting, the new notes will include advanced security elements like sophisticated holograms, thicker security threads, and metallic foil strips. These align with international best practices, making the notes more secure and harder to forge. The SBP is also exploring polymer-based notes, with a trial planned for December 2025, to enhance durability and reduce wear over time.
Transition and Circulation
The rollout will begin in late 2025, with new notes gradually introduced through banks and ATMs. Existing notes will remain valid for several years to ensure a smooth transition, maintaining public confidence and economic stability.
Clarifying Rumors
The SBP has dismissed false claims circulating on social media, particularly a hoax suggesting that notes with pen marks would lose legal tender status after July 1, 2025. The bank advises against defacing notes with markings or slogans, as such notes may be rejected by banks.
Broader Context
This redesign coincides with Pakistan’s efforts to modernize its financial systems amid economic challenges, including a projected 3.1% growth rate for 2025-26. The new notes aim to strengthen trust in the currency while showcasing Pakistan’s cultural pride on a global stage.
The SBP’s initiative marks a significant step toward a secure, durable, and culturally resonant currency, designed to meet the needs of a modern economy.
