SBP extends date for implementing machine authenticated Rs50 banknotes

SBP extends date for implementing machine authenticated Rs50 banknotes

KARACHI: State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has extended the date for banks regarding issuance of machine authenticated Rs50 banknotes.

In a notification issued on Thursday, the central bank said that considering the difficulties faced by banks in machine processing of lower denomination banknotes under the Currency Management Strategy (CMS), it had been decided to extend the effective date for issuance of machine authenticate Rs50 banknotes until January 4, 2021.

The banks are however encouraged to gradually adopt machine processing and authentication of Rs50 banknotes.

Earlier, the banks were required to process lower denomination banknotes under the CMS from January 02, 2020.

The SBP on August 31, 2017 issued Currency Management System, which is as follow:

Considering the various aspects of implementation and feedback of the stakeholders, the following changes have been made in the strategy:

I. Sealed Cassettes based feeding of ATMs:

The instructions contained at section C (iii) of FD Circular No.03/2015 dated August 26, 2015 regarding use of standardized purpose built cassettes for feeding of ATMs shall stand amended as under:

a) The requirement of cassette based feeding of ATMs has been made optional for the time being. The banks are however encouraged to plan for gradual movement towards cassette based feeding to comply with our instructions. SBP will continue to monitor the situation on periodic basis for a policy decision.

b) The banks may alternatively use sealed bags or trays for feeding of ATMs. However the banks shall ensure that sealing and unsealing of bags/trays and replenishment of ATMs is carried out under proper CCTV controlled environment.

c) The on-site ATMs can be fed by their respective branches provided that the end to end process from cash processing to ATM feeding is covered by CCTV cameras.

d) Other requirements as advised under section C of FD Circular No.03/2015 dated August 26, 2015 shall remain applicable.

II. Application of Strategy on lower banknote denominations:

The instructions contained at section-I of FD Circular No.01/2016 dated January 25, 2016 regarding implementation of phase-II of strategy for all denomination of banknotes w.e.f. 2nd January 2018 shall stand amended as under:

a) The banks will start disbursing machine authenticated banknotes of Rs 100 w.e.f. 2nd January 2018 and Rs 50 w.e.f. 2nd January 2019 respectively.

b) The lower banknote denominations of Rs 20 and Rs 10 have been excluded from Currency Management Strategy.

III. Banknote Packing Instructions (BPI)

The Banknote Packing Instructions issued vide FD Circular No.02/2017 dated March 10, 2017 shall stand amended as under:

a) The effective date of instructions contained at section 1.2 and 1.3 of BPI has been extended from 3rd July 2017 to 1st December 2017.

The banks may deposit the cash processed and packed by other bank(s) with SBP BSC or offer the same in IEC. The earlier requirement that the cash processed and packed by the depositing bank can only be deposited with SBP BSC or offered for exchange in IEC shall stand withdrawn. However, in case of any discrepancy, the bank which has processed and packed the cash shall be responsible.