The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has introduced a new regulation that will change the way people handle currency in the country. Starting July 1, 2025, writing on currency notes using pens will be strictly prohibited. Any note marked with a pen will no longer be considered valid for everyday transactions. That’s right — your scribbled notes and pen marks on cash will soon render your money useless.
This decision aims to preserve the beauty and quality of Pakistani currency. Over the years, it’s become a common habit, especially in markets, for people to write numbers or notes on bills. Often, shopkeepers do this to keep track of amounts while counting money. Unfortunately, these pen marks have made the notes look untidy and worn out.
According to the SBP, this initiative is about more than just looks. Currency notes that are written on are considered damaged. And damaged currency is harder to manage, harder to sort, and doesn’t reflect well on the country’s financial system. It’s also worth noting that machines used for scanning and sorting notes often have trouble processing bills that have ink marks or handwritten text.
So, what should you do if you have notes with pen marks? There’s a deadline. The SBP has made it clear that people have until June 30, 2025, to deposit their written-on notes into banks. After that, those notes will no longer be accepted, even by banks. If you hold on to them beyond the deadline, you could end up with cash that holds no value.
This move is part of a broader effort by the SBP to ensure that Pakistani currency remains in top shape — clean, recognizable, and usable in automated systems. It’s also a small but important step toward modernizing the country’s banking and financial practices.
So, start checking your wallets. If you find notes with pen marks, make sure to exchange them before the deadline. Clean money isn’t just about appearance anymore — it’s about staying current with the law.