ISLAMABAD: With Eid al-Fitr approaching on March 20, public interest in obtaining fresh currency notes has increased across Pakistan. Many families traditionally distribute “Eidi” to children during the festival, creating high demand for new banknotes in the weeks before the celebration.
In response, the State Bank of Pakistan has issued guidelines explaining how citizens can legally obtain fresh notes while warning against the buying or selling of currency at inflated prices.
According to the central bank, selling new notes at higher rates is illegal and may result in legal action. Officials, therefore, urged the public to use official banking channels instead of purchasing notes from unauthorized sellers.
SMS service and bank branches facilitate distribution
To simplify the process, the State Bank activates its 8877 SMS service during the second week of Ramadan. Through this system, citizens can request fresh currency packets from designated bank branches.
Applicants must send their Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) number, followed by a space and the code of their preferred bank branch to 8877. Afterward, the system replies with a unique transaction code along with the address of the selected branch.
Once the message is received, individuals should visit the assigned branch with their original CNIC and a photocopy. Bank staff verify the transaction code before issuing packets that typically include PKR10, PKR20, and PKR50 notes.
If the SMS service becomes busy, customers may contact their bank branch directly. Most commercial banks maintain a limited supply of new notes, often prioritizing account holders.
Meanwhile, fresh notes are also distributed through the Banking Services Corporation’s offices in major cities such as Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. These are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
Additionally, during the last ten days of Ramadan, ATMs are typically stocked with newly issued PKR500 and PKR1000 notes to support Eid cash needs.
