Rs 10 Note Is Not Being Discontinued, SBP Says: How to Check Such Rumours in Pakistan
SBP says reports of a Rs 10 note ending and an exchange deadline are baseless. A new note series is only before the Cabinet. See how to check such news.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) says reports that the Rs 10 note is being discontinued, with a last date to exchange it, are baseless. In a press release on 17 September 2026 it said a proposal for a new banknote series is only under consideration by the Federal Cabinet and no decision has been taken.
If you hold Rs 10 notes, you can keep using them. We read the SBP press release and its press releases page on 21 October 2026. The rest of this page shows how to check a currency rumour yourself.
SBP called the discontinuation reports baseless
The SBP release says it "categorically refutes" social media reports about the purported discontinuation of the Rs 10 banknote and a last date for exchange. It says the reports have no substance.
The wording matters. SBP did not say the notes will never change. It said no decision has been made, and it denied the rumour about a deadline.
A new banknote series is only a proposal before the Cabinet
SBP says it has submitted a proposal for a new banknote series, which the Federal Cabinet is considering. The matter remains under deliberation. No decision has been taken to replace or discontinue any denomination.
| Claim going around | What SBP said on 17 September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Rs 10 note is discontinued | Refuted. No such decision. |
| There is a last date to exchange it | Refuted. No date exists. |
| A new note series is planned | A proposal is with the Federal Cabinet. |
| Any denomination is being replaced | No decision has been taken. |
As of 21 October 2026 we found no later SBP release on the subject. The newest items on its press page are dated 17, 13 and 9 October, and none mentions banknotes.
A real change would be announced officially with time to exchange
SBP says any decision will be communicated formally through official channels, and the public will be given adequate time to exchange discontinued notes. So there is no reason to hurry to a bank or sell notes to a dealer at a discount.
Be careful of anyone who offers to buy old notes now at a lower price. That is how a rumour turns into a loss. If you want to know how much cash is in circulation, see what backs the Rs 12.66 trillion of banknotes.
Why currency rumours spread and who gains from them
A rumour about a note being withdrawn works because people fear losing money they hold in cash. Small notes make it worse: Rs 10 notes are in every wallet, shop and bus fare, so a message about them travels fast.
The people who gain are those who buy the "last" notes cheap or sell fake exchange services. SBP's advice in the press release is short: rely only on official communications issued by SBP. We repeat it because it is the whole rule.
A proposal for a new series is a normal central bank process, and it does not mean old notes stop being money. SBP itself says that any discontinuation, if ever decided, would come with adequate time to exchange. We did not check past notices in this review, so we make no claim about earlier note changes.
For now, the only verified facts are the ones in SBP's release: the reports are baseless, a proposal exists, and the Cabinet has not decided. If a forwarded message gives a date, a name of an office or a phone number to call, treat that as a warning sign, not as proof. Real notices name the SBP circular or press release number and can be found on the SBP website, which you can open yourself without following any link in the message.
Check any currency rumour in four steps
Rumours about notes spread fast on messaging apps, often with a fake date. Use this routine before you act.
- Open the SBP press releases page and look for the denomination named in the message.
- Check the date. A real decision has an official release or a circular, not only a forwarded image.
- If a deadline is claimed, look for it in SBP circulars. No circular means no deadline.
- Wait before you exchange or sell notes. Official channels promise enough time.
If a note is torn or damaged, that is a different case with its own rules. Our guide on how to exchange torn or damaged banknotes explains them. And to tell a real large note from a fake, read the Rs 5,000 note security features.
Common questions
Is the Rs 10 note being discontinued?
No. SBP said on 17 September 2026 that the reports are baseless and no decision has been taken.
Is there a last date to exchange Rs 10 notes?
No. SBP refuted that claim. It says any real deadline would be announced officially.
Will new banknotes come to Pakistan?
A proposal for a new series is under consideration by the Federal Cabinet. We found no decision as of 21 October 2026.
Where do I check an SBP announcement?
Use the press releases page and the circulars section on the SBP website. Do not rely on screenshots.
What should I do with my old notes?
Keep using them. Do not sell them at a discount to a dealer on the strength of a message.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
On 21 October 2026 we read SBP's press release of 17 September 2026 and the SBP press releases page. We could not confirm whether the Federal Cabinet has since decided on the new series, and we found no announcement. We did not see the proposed designs.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
