The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has introduced SMS service to facilitate people in acquiring new currency notes to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr.
As part of steps taken to provide citizens with new currency notes, especially with Eid holidays, SMS service would be provided through 500 e-branches in 116 cities during Ramazan. Sources informed that the aspirants of fresh currency notes need to type Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) number<space>e-branch ID and send it as an SMS to 8877. Charges of sending an SMS to 8877 are Rs 2 (plus tax).In reply to SMS, the customer will get their redemption code, e-branch address and redemption code validity date. The redemption code will be valid for two working days.Once the aspirants receive the code, they can visit the concerned e-branch along with their original CNIC, its photocopy and the redemption code received from 8877 to acquire new currency notes.
To avoid an abuse of the system, SBP has also allotted a quota of new notes which will be granted to each person. This quota consists of two packets of Rs 10, one packet of Rs20, one packet of Rs 50 and one packet of Rs 100 (the Rs 50 and Rs 100 notes are subject to availability).Under this SMS service, each CNIC number and mobile phone number can only be used once. No transaction code will be issued to senders if they send same CNIC/smart card number from different mobile numbers or addresses.
A help desk has also been established at 111-008-877 to entertain queries/complaints of general public. The help desk can be contacted through Nationwide Dialing Code (NWD) of 042 for Punjab, 021 for Sindh and Balochistan, 051 for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. This facility will only be available during office hours. The start of SMS service is expected facilitate public in acquiring new currency notes for Eid-ul-Fitr in a timely and hassle-free manner.
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