Eid ul Fitr 2026: SBP shares update on fresh currency notes

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday rejected a notification circulating on social media about the non-availability of fresh currency notes for Eid-ul-Fitr 2026, calling the document “fake”.

The viral statement, which has been shared on different social media platforms, claimed that the central bank would not issue new banknotes this year. It also said that the SMS service (8877) and special bank counters used in previous years for distributing fresh notes would not be available.

“The notification being shared on social media is not true,” the spokesperson said when contacted for confirmation.

However, the official confirmed that the central bank will not be issuing fresh currency notes for Eid-ul-Fitr this year.

In Pakistan, giving fresh currency notes as Eidi to children and relatives during Eid is a long-standing tradition. Every year, many people visit banks to exchange old notes for new ones before the festival.

In the past, the SBP arranged the distribution of fresh notes through commercial banks and special counters set up at bank branches across the country. People could also get the notes by using the SMS service introduced by the central bank.

So far, the central bank has not released a formal public notification explaining the policy for this year.