Currency notes are more than just a medium of exchange — they are secure instruments designed to prevent counterfeiting while reflecting national identity. In Pakistan, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has incorporated a comprehensive set of security features across its currency notes, ranging from Rs. 20 to Rs. 5,000, to ensure their authenticity and safety in circulation.
Each denomination contains unique visual and tactile features that help users — especially retailers, banks, and the visually impaired — verify a note’s legitimacy. Below is a breakdown of the key security features embedded in Pakistani banknotes:
Each note also showcases a significant national landmark on its reverse side:
| Denomination | Landmark on Reverse Side | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Rs. 5,000 | Faisal Mosque | Islamabad |
| Rs. 1,000 | Islamia College | Peshawar |
| Rs. 500 | Badshahi Mosque | Lahore |
| Rs. 100 | Quaid-e-Azam Residency | Ziarat |
| Rs. 50 | Karakoram Peak (8,611 m) | Gilgit-Baltistan |
| Rs. 20 | Mohenjo-Daro | Sindh |
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Portrait watermark
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Numeral 20 watermark
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Security thread
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See-through numeral 20
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Hidden numeral 20
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Intaglio printing
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Braille feature – raised circle
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Colour-shifting signature
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Year of production
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Location image – Mohenjo-Daro (reverse)
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Portrait watermark
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Numeral 50 watermark
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Security thread
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Geometrical patterns
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See-through numeral 50
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Intaglio printing
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Hidden numeral 50
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Micro-lettering
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Braille feature – three raised lines
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Colour-shifting signature
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Year of production
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Location image – Karakoram Peak (reverse)
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Portrait watermark
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Numeral 100 watermark
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Window security thread
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Geometrical patterns
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See-through numeral 100
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Intaglio printing
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Hidden numeral 100
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Micro-lettering
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Braille feature – three raised lines
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Colour-shifting signature
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Year of production
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Location image – Quaid-e-Azam Residency, Ziarat (reverse)
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Portrait watermark
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Numeral 500 watermark
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Optical variable ink
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Window security thread
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Geometrical patterns
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See-through numeral 500
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Intaglio printing
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Hidden numeral 500
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Micro-lettering
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Braille feature – raised dot circle
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Colour-shifting signature
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Year of production
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Location image – Badshahi Mosque, Lahore (reverse)
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Portrait watermark – Quaid-e-Azam
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Numeral 1,000 watermark
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Optical variable ink – magenta to green
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Window security thread
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Geometrical patterns
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See-through numeral 1,000
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Intaglio printing
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Hidden numeral 1,000
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Micro-lettering
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Braille feature – three raised rectangles
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Colour-shifting signature
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Year of production
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Location image – Islamia College, Peshawar (reverse)
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Portrait watermark – Quaid-e-Azam
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Numeral 5,000 watermark
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Optical variable ink – crescent and star shift from green to golden
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Window security thread – fluorescent and micro-lettered
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Geometrical patterns
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See-through numeral 5,000
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Intaglio printing – raised text and portrait
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Hidden numeral 5,000
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Micro-lettering – “5000” in microprint (front and reverse)
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Braille feature – three raised circles
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Colour-shifting signature – governor’s signature in note colour
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Year of production
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Location image – Faisal Mosque, Islamabad (reverse)
