KARACHI, Aug 3: Currency notes of Rs20 will go into circulation from Aug 13. And by the end of this year currency notes of Rs5000 will also be available. “The offices of the SBP Banking Services Corporation will start issuing Rs20 notes from Aug 13,” confirmed Syed Wasimuddin, chief spokesman for the State Bank when reached by Dawn over telephone. There are 16 such offices in the same number of cities across Pakistan.

He also confirmed that the SBP would possibly issue Rs5000 notes sometime in December. Mr Wasimuddin said the Rs20 notes have been designed keeping in view the international standards of security features. He said that these notes also have special features aimed at enabling the blind people to recognize them.

Whereas people are receptive to the idea of introducing Rs20 currency notes, many of them have reservations about plans to launch Rs5000 notes. They fear that currency notes of such a big denomination would facilitate undocumented financial transactions including kickbacks and bribes. The SBP had issued Rs500 currency notes in 1986 and Rs1000 notes in 1987.