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Faded currency

notes circulation

continues

ISLAMABAD: Faded and mucky currency notes in circulation throughout the country have become a source of annoyance to many as people tend to refuse acceptance at first sight.

"I will prefer to lose two rupees instead of accepting an infectious disease being transmitted in the shape of a soiled currency note," a local school teacher, Mrs. Saeeda Waqar, said while rejecting the change being offered by a confectioner.

A State Bank official when asked to comment said: "Plenty of new currency notes of varying denominations have been issued by the government recently and everybody is free to get the worn-out notes exchanged from any of the banks counter."

Instead of allowing the irritating notes to circulate, the people should take those to the bank, he said adding that it depend upon general behaviour of the people.

The official stated that the SBP had been regularly incinerating the old currency notes and putting new ones in circulation.

However, he said printing of Re 1 and Rs 2 denomination notes had been prohibited and no date had been fixed as how long the existing notes would continue to be a legal tender.

He said decision to prohibit printing of fresh notes of these denominations had been necessitated in view of the escalating cost of printing. Instead, the government had issued coins of Re 1 and Rs 2.

An elderly person while refusing to pocket a Rs 2 bill said, "It is nauseating and disgusting to have contact with currency notes of Re 1 and Rs 2 denomination particularly."

Decayed currency notes are commonly offered in public transport and shopping centres sometimes leading to brawls as difference arise over their acceptance.

The currency notes lose their shine very soon and appear shabby and faded mainly because of the weather conditions and use of new notes as ceremonial garlands.

Those who use the currency notes for making garlands still possess a large quantity of fresh notes and sell a garland made of Rs 100 at a price of Rs 150. This has been described as a major source of spoiling the currency notes. APP