A viral claim circulating on social media has caused widespread confusion, asserting that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has officially banned currency notes with pen markings starting July 1, 2025. According to the misleading posts, any note bearing a pen mark would no longer be accepted by banks, and the public was advised to use pencils instead of pens to write on banknotes. However, this claim is entirely false.
No Official Ban by State Bank of Pakistan
The rumor gained traction after a Facebook user shared an image of a Rs1,000 currency note with pen marks, falsely stating that the State Bank of Pakistan had issued a directive banning such notes. The post even quoted a fabricated statement from SBP, claiming: “From July 1, 2025, any currency note with pen markings will not be accepted.”
This misinformation was later amplified across other platforms, including Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Threads. The claim also misled the public into believing that banks would reject marked currency notes from that specific date.
SBP Confirms: Viral Claim Is Fake
In response to the viral misinformation, the official spokesperson of the State Bank of Pakistan, Noor Ahmad, spoke with Geo Fact Check and unequivocally denied the rumor. “This is fake news,” he said, confirming that the central bank had issued no such notification or directive.
The State Bank of Pakistan clarified that it has not instructed banks or the public to reject currency notes with pen markings, nor has it announced any change to current currency handling policies. All such claims circulating on social media are entirely baseless and fabricated.
Verdict: The claim is false. There is no ban on pen marks on currency notes, and the State Bank of Pakistan has issued no such policy.
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