Fact-check: No, State Bank of Pakistan has not banned pen marks on currency notes
No such notification has been issued by the central bank
Updated Saturday May 17 2025
A post going viral on social media claims that Pakistan's central bank has banned the use of pen markings on currency notes and that such notes will not be accepted at any bank starting July 1.
The claim is false.
Claim
On May 15, a Facebook user shared an image of a Rs1,000 currency note marked with a pen. The post was captioned: "The State Bank of Pakistan has banned writing on currency notes with pens."
The user further claimed that the public is requested to use pencils instead of pens on currency notes, as pen marks affect the appearance of the notes.
"From July 1, 2025, any currency note with pen markings will not be accepted, statement from the State Bank of Pakistan," the user added.
Similar claims were also shared on Instagram, X (Twitter), and Threads
Fact
The State Bank of Pakistan has denied issuing any such instruction to banks or the public.
"This is fake news," Noor Ahmad, the spokesperson for the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), confirmed to Geo Fact Check over the phone. He added that no such notification has been issued by the central bank.
Verdict: The State Bank of Pakistan has not issued any instruction banning currency notes with pen markings. A spokesperson confirmed that no such directive exists.
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