Islamabad: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has officially concluded its Art Competition for the new banknote series, announcing the winners who are set to have their designs considered in the final stages of banknote design. The competition, which drew entries from numerous talented local artists and designers, aimed to incorporate Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage and progressive vision into the design of the upcoming banknotes.

According to State Bank of Pakistan, the competition was meticulously judged by a panel of experts from relevant fields who selected the top designs based on creativity and relevance to the nation’s ethos. Dr. Shery Abidi and Mr. Haroon Khan won first prizes for their designs of the Rs. 10 and Rs. 20 denominations, respectively. Syed Fawad Hussain’s design was chosen for the Rs. 50 note, while Ms. Memoona Afzal stood out with her designs being selected for both the Rs. 100 and Rs. 5000 notes.

Additionally, Ms. Hadiya Hassan and Ms. Noureen Aslam were awarded first place for their designs of the Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes, respectively. Second place prizes were awarded to Mr. Mirza Sufiyan and Ms. Aynee Zahra for the Rs. 10 and Rs. 500 denominations, and Mr. Karim Muhammad for the Rs. 5000 note.

The winning designs are set to inspire the final versions of the new banknotes. These designs will be shared with international designers who have been shortlisted to finalize the banknote series. These international experts will have the freedom to use their own creative skills while drawing inspiration from the winning local designs to ensure the final products reflect a blend of local heritage and modern aesthetics.

The SBP has expressed its gratitude to all participants and congratulated the winners, noting that their contributions are invaluable to this national project. Details about the award ceremony will be announced soon, where winners will receive their prizes as previously stated by the SBP.