slamabad:The government has approved the introduction of new designs for four banknotes. Under the new plan, banknotes of Rs. 100, Rs. 500, Rs. 1,000, and Rs. 5,000 will be redesigned. This decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday at the Prime Minister’s House.

The new notes are being developed in line with modern international standards, with global experts engaged in the design process. The redesigned notes will include enhanced security threads to strengthen protection against counterfeiting.

The cabinet also ratified decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Energy in its meeting held on December 24, 2025, and by the Economic Coordination Committee in its meeting held on December 23, 2025.

A key point is that no existing currency notes will be discontinued, but all notes will be issued with new designs and updated security features. Sources in the Ministry of Finance said the redesigned notes are expected to be introduced during the current year.

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Officials said that Pakistan currently has around Rs. 10,260 billion worth of currency in circulation. To facilitate the replacement of old notes, the government will issue a clear timeline to all banks for exchanging existing currency with newly designed notes.

Sources added that approval from the Federal Cabinet will be sought shortly to formally launch the new currency series. Under the plan, one denomination will be introduced as a plastic polymer note, while the remaining will continue as paper currency. The polymer note will use a special plastic material and will be tested for durability. If the plastic note proves to last longer than paper currency, it may be adopted more widely in the future.

Officials further stated that the new notes will feature advanced security elements and modern design features, improving durability and reducing counterfeiting. The government intends to roll out all redesigned notes within the year, ensuring a smooth transition without disrupting cash circulation or daily transactions