Did the SBP ban currency notes with ink marks?

A viral social media claim alleging that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has imposed a ban on currency notes bearing pen marks has been confirmed as false.

The Claim

On May 15, a Facebook user shared an image of a PKR 1,000 currency note with pen marks, claiming that the SBP had announced a ban on writing with ink pens on banknotes.

The post further alleged that from July 1, 2025, such notes would no longer be accepted by banks, urging the public to use pencils instead of pens as ink marks "affect the appearance of the notes."

Similar claims spread across platforms like Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Threads.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has issued a ban on writing anything on currency notes using pens. This decision, announced in a recent statement, aims to preserve the aesthetic integrity of the country’s currency.#Statebankofpakistan #New #Rule #Banned #Writing #Pen #Mark pic.twitter.com/vSDBDBM8C8

— Voiceup Pakist

Fact check:

The State Bank of Pakistan has issued no such directive. In a phone conversation with Geo Fact Check, SBP spokesperson Noor Ahmed confirmed that the circulating claim is entirely false.

“This is fake news,” he stated, adding that no circular or official instruction regarding the matter has been issued by the central bank.

Conclusion:

The claim that the SBP has banned pen marks on currency notes or declared such notes invalid from July 1, 2025, is baseless and untrue.

State Bank clarifies no notification issued; warns against defacing currency as illegal

Read: https://t.co/UXZnAaSKQU pic.twitter.com/xt21FZaWee

— Profit (@Profitpk) May 16, 2025