As Eidul Fitr 2025 approaches, the demand for new currency notes surges as people seek crisp bills to distribute as Eidi.

While festive preparations continue across markets, acquiring fresh notes remains a priority for many, particularly parents eager to delight their children.

Bank officials stated that obtaining new currency notes is a straightforward process.

"Customers can visit their bank with a copy of their CNIC and request new notes. If the bank has a stock available, they are issued immediately," he said.

State Bank's role in issuing new notes

Bank officials clarified that while the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) provides fresh currency notes to commercial banks, the allocation is determined solely by the central bank.

"Many people assume that banks request a specific quantity from the SBP, but that is not the case. The State Bank decides how much to issue, and banks must accept whatever is allocated," said a customer service manager at a private bank.

PKR Rupee dollar May 16

"Sometimes, the State Bank does not issue new notes at all, and in such cases, banks have no authority to object," he added.

Limited supply and distribution challenges

According to banking officials, the limited stock of new notes depletes rapidly, often within days of arrival.

"This year, fresh currency notes were delivered to banks around the 15th of Ramadan, but they were exhausted soon after," a banker revealed.

Past practices

Until a few years ago, the SBP directly issued new notes to the public through a digital token system. Customers would send a message to a designated code and collect notes from specified branches. However, this system has since been discontinued.

"Now, the State Bank provides currency notes to commercial banks, and the public must visit these banks with their CNIC to obtain them," added a bank official.

The SBP allocates a fixed number of bundles per branch. Typically, a branch receives:

8 to 10 bundles of Rs 10 notes
3 to 4 bundles of Rs 100 notes
1 to 2 bundles of Rs 20 notes
A limited stock of Rs 50 notes

"Each bundle contains 10 packets, so an entire branch receives around 80 to 100 bundles. Given the high number of customers, meeting the demand is challenging," he explained.

How much can a customer get?

To ensure equitable distribution, most banks limit issuance to Rs 16,000 to Rs 18,000 per customer, comprising Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 50, and Rs 100 denominations.