KARACHI, May 16 — State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad announced on Friday that the designs for the country’s new currency notes have been finalized. The new designs have now been sent to the federal cabinet for final approval. Speaking to members of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the governor explained that the central bank introduces new banknotes every 15 to 20 years. This routine update helps fight fake currency by adding advanced, modern security features to the cash.
گورنر اسٹیٹ بینک جمیل احمد کا کہنا ہے کہ نئے ڈیزائن کے کرنسی نوٹوں کی منظوری میں تاخیر کا امکان ہے۔ حکومت نے ڈیزائن میں مزید بہتری کیلئے نوٹ واپس بھجوا دیے ہیں جبکہ حتمی منظوری وفاقی کابینہ دے گی۔ انہوں نے بتایا کہ زرمبادلہ کے ذخائر اور ترسیلات زر میں بھی نمایاں بہتری آئی ہے۔… pic.twitter.com/Jln72AZtkZ
— Vision Point (@VisionPointPK) May 15, 2026
Quick Facts
- Designs for new Pakistani currency notes have been sent to the federal cabinet for approval.
- The new notes will feature advanced security tech to prevent counterfeiting.
- Inflation is expected to rise slightly above 7% in the final quarter of the fiscal year.
- Remittances sent by overseas Pakistanis are expected to hit a record-breaking $41 billion this year.
- SME financing has grown massively, aiming for a target of Rs1.5 trillion by 2028.
- The SBP confirmed it uses strict tracking systems to report suspicious bank transactions to law enforcement.
During the meeting, the governor shared a positive outlook on the country’s finances but warned of minor hurdles. While global conflict and oil price shifts could cause temporary inflation, Pakistan’s external accounts are in a much healthier position. This stability is largely thanks to a crack-down on illegal money trading (hundi and hawala) and record-breaking remittances from overseas workers. However, global economic pressures have caused national exports to drop slightly, moving down to an estimated $30 billion this year compared to $32 billion last year.
The governor also addressed questions regarding banking security and small business growth. When asked about recent high-profile drug cases involving suspicious wealth, he reassured business leaders that commercial banks closely monitor and report unusual transactions to the law enforcement agencies. On a supportive note for local trade, the SBP has cut red tape for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), significantly increasing loans to help small businesses grow. In response, KCCI leaders praised the economic progress but urged the SBP to fix trade valuation issues currently complicating daily business operations.
