Govt reviews new currency designs

January 15, 2026 (MLN): The federal cabinet has set up a cabinet committee to review proposed new designs for Pakistan’s currency notes, a move that could lead to the replacement of high-value banknotes with enhanced security features and updated national imagery.

The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, where members were briefed on a proposal by the State Bank of Pakistan to redesign Rs100, Rs500, Rs1,000 and Rs5,000 notes.

The redesign initiative involves international experts and is aimed at aligning Pakistan’s currency with modern security and design standards.

The proposed banknotes would incorporate advanced security threads and features to curb counterfeiting, according to APP.

They would also show Pakistan’s regional and geographical diversity, historical landmarks, and social themes such as women’s contribution to national development and environmental change.

Any rollout of new notes would have implications for cash handling, ATMs, and the broader payments ecosystem, given that higher-denomination notes account for a significant share of currency in circulation.

The cabinet decided that the proposed designs require further scrutiny and referred the matter to a specially constituted cabinet committee for detailed deliberation, showed that no immediate change to currency notes is expected.

Separately, the cabinet reviewed a draft Private Hajj Policy for 2027–2030, focused on third-party registration and oversight of private Hajj operators.

Based on members’ input, the draft was referred to the Hajj Policy Committee for further examination.

The cabinet also ratified decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Energy on December 24, 2025, and by the Economic Coordination Committee on December 23, 2025, covering matters related to energy and economic management.

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