State Bank Unveils New Currency Notes for 2025 With New Security Features & Design

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has officially debunked viral claims about a supposed launch of new currency notes in 2025, featuring redesigned denominations with advanced security features and a polymer note trial. Social media posts and unverified websites have spread false reports about a July 2025 rollout, causing widespread confusion. The SBP confirms no such plans exist, and the current notes (Rs. 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000, and 5,000) remain valid. This article clarifies the fake news, details the misleading claims circulating online, and provides tips to avoid scams, based on official statements from www.sbp.org.pk and recent reports.

Official SBP Statement: No New Notes in 2025

The SBP issued a statement on August 15, 2025, via its website, categorically denying plans for new currency notes in 2025. “No proposal for a redesigned series or polymer notes is under consideration,” said SBP spokesperson Noor Ahmed, per dailytimes.com.pk. The central bank clarified that current notes, introduced between 2005 and 2008, will remain legal tender with no changes planned. Reports of a 2024 art competition or cabinet approval for new designs are also false, per brecorder.com. The SBP is working with cyber authorities to trace the source of this misinformation, which has misled millions, with over 10 million views of a fake Rs. 1,000 note on TikTok, per dailytimes.com.pk.

Fake Claims Circulating on Social Media

Misleading posts on platforms like WhatsApp, TikTok, and X have fueled confusion about a supposed 2025 currency overhaul. Here are the key false claims, debunked by the SBP:

• Redesigned Notes: Fake articles claimed new designs featuring Badshahi Mosque (Rs. 10), Khyber Pass (Rs. 20), K2 Mountain (Rs. 50), Minar-e-Pakistan (Rs. 100), Faisal Mosque (Rs. 500), Mohenjo-Daro (Rs. 1,000), and Quaid-e-Azam portrait (Rs. 5,000). The SBP confirms no such designs exist.
• Polymer Note Trial: Rumors of a polymer Rs. 100 note with UV-reactive maps and nano-engraved poetry were fabricated. The SBP has no plans for polymer notes in 2025.
• Security Features: Claims of holographic stripes, micro-optic effects, and metallic foil strips with glowing maps are baseless. Current notes already have sufficient security features, per www.sbp.org.pk.
• Art Competition: A fake story about a 2024 nationwide art contest with a PKR 1 million prize for a Quetta-based artist is untrue. While the SBP announced an art competition in January 2024, it was for thematic ideas, not final designs, and winners were announced in September 2024 without any 2025 rollout plans.
• Collector’s Market Hype: False reports suggested low-serial notes could fetch PKR 50,000–100,000 at auctions, misleading investors. Pakistan’s numismatic market has no history of such valuations, per khurshidgroup.com.pk.
• July 2025 Rollout: Claims of a phased launch starting July 2025 with cabinet approval are entirely fabricated. The SBP has not sought federal approval for any new notes, per sach.org.pk

These rumors, amplified by unverified websites and social media, have led to scams, with some fraudsters offering to “pre-order” fake notes, per nespakfoundation.com.pk.

Why the Confusion?

The fake news gained traction due to several factors:

• Viral Spread: A fake Rs. 1,000 note video garnered over 10 million views on TikTok, with users mistakenly believing it was authentic, per dailytimes.com.pk.
• Misinterpreted Art Competition: The SBP’s 2024 art competition for thematic ideas was wrongly interpreted as a finalized redesign plan, despite clarifications on September 5, 2024, per brecorder.com.
• Counterfeit Concerns: Public frustration over counterfeiting (PKR 2 billion annually, per samaa.tv) fueled belief in a redesign to combat fake notes, though no such initiative exists.
• Unverified Sources: Fake articles cited “SBP insiders” and “Karachi-based officials” without evidence, misleading readers, per

How to Stay Safe from Scams

To avoid falling for fake news or scams:

• Verify with Official Sources: Check www.sbp.org.pk or @StateBank_Pak on X for authentic updates. Avoid unverified websites or WhatsApp forwards.
• Inspect Notes: Use UV lights or SBP’s mobile app to verify current notes’ security features (watermarks, security threads), per thecurrent.pk.
• Avoid Pre-Orders: Do not pay for “pre-order” notes or deals promising new currency, as these are scams, per nespakfoundation.com.pk.
• Report Misinformation: Contact SBP’s helpline (111-727-273) or flag fake posts on social media to curb their spread, per hufc.pk.
• Stay Updated: Follow SBP’s official channels for any future currency announcements.

Current Currency Status

The existing Rs. 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000, and 5,000 notes, introduced between 2005 and 2008, remain fully valid with no plans for replacement in 2025, per www.sbp.org.pk. The SBP recently issued a Rs. 75 commemorative coin for Independence Day, showing its focus on smaller initiatives, not a full currency overhaul. Counterfeiting remains a concern, but the SBP is enhancing detection through awareness campaigns and bank training, per timesofindia.indiatimes.com.

What’s Next?

The SBP has no plans for new currency notes in 2025, and the current series remains secure and valid. While an art competition in 2024 gathered thematic ideas, no redesign is scheduled, per brecorder.com. To combat counterfeiting, the SBP is focusing on public awareness and improved bank detection rather than new notes.

Disclaimer: Based on August 2025 data. Verify details with official sources like www.sbp.org.pk or SBP’s helpline (111-727-273).