ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): As Eid al-Fitr approaches, citizens have started preparing to get new and clean notes for Eid. The State Bank of Pakistan has completed all the necessary arrangements in this regard by February 2026 so that the public does not face any problem.
This year, the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr is expected to be around March 20, in view of which the central bank has directed the citizens to submit their applications in time so that they can get the notes as per their requirement before the limited quota is exhausted.
How to Get Fresh Currency Notes on Eid al-Fitr
The State Bank of Pakistan has devised an integrated system to ensure fair distribution of new notes, under which citizens can use the 8877 short code service from their mobile phones.
According to this procedure, users have to go to their message box and write their CNIC number and the code of the desired bank branch and send it to 8877, in response to which they will receive a unique transaction code and branch address.
After receiving the code, citizens will visit the relevant bank branch with their original identity card and its photocopy, where the bank staff will usually provide packets of Rs 10, 20, and 50 notes after verifying the code.
Alternative sources and banking facilities
If the 8877 service is busy or the code is not being received due to any technical reason, citizens can also directly contact the manager of their respective bank branch, where banks give priority to their regular customers.
Apart from this, arrangements have been made for the supply of new notes at the State Bank’s own BSC offices in major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, where notes are given on a “first-come, first-served” basis.
In the last ten days of Ramadan, some banks also put new Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes in their ATMs, which are suitable for giving Eid gifts to the elderly.
Important Warning and Official Instructions
The State Bank of Pakistan has strongly urged citizens to stay away from black market or overpriced note sellers and to use only official channels to avoid any kind of fraud.
The authorities have clarified that any illegal buying and selling should be reported to the concerned authorities immediately. Citizens have been advised to contact them in the second week of Ramadan to obtain notes, as the quota may run out soon due to limited stock.
