The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has clarified the authenticity of Rs 500 Banknote amidst a controversy circulating in certain sections of the media regarding Rs 500 banknotes without Optical Variable Ink (OVI) flag. The SBP in a statement issued on Monday stated that the central bank introduced a new design for Rs 500 bank notes in 2006. Furthermore, SBP stated that these banknotes contain state of the art security features including a changed size, design and color scheme.
Later, another security feature – the colour shifting flag made of Optical Variable Ink(OVI) was added to enhance the anti-counterfeiting resilience and ease in identification by the general public, the SBP statement added.
This, led to the circulation of both types of Rs 500 banknotes – those issued during 2006-2009 without OVI, and those issued w.e.f January 25, 2010, with OVI feature.
`It is, therefore, clarified for benefit of all concerned that new design banknotes of Rs 500, with and without OVI flag, are genuine provided all other security features are intact,’ it stated.
Hence, the SBP called on the public to discard and prevent dissemination of any such unauthenticated news.
