Claim: A notification by the Ministry of Finance claims that the 5000 rupees note will be banned in Pakistan from 30 September 2023.
Fact: This news is false as no such notification has been issued by the Finance division.
On 7 September 2023, a notification started circulating on social media that reads, “the Federal Government is pleased to announce a significant policy change aimed at strengthening the financial system and curbing illicit activities. With effect from September 30, 2023, the use, possession, and circulation of Rs 5000 currency notes will be banned throughout the country.”
The notification was allegedly issued by the Government of Pakistan Finance Division.
Fact or Fiction?
Fact Checker MOBI – The official X (formally Twitter) fact-checking account of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting debunked the claim by posting the notification with “fake news” stamped across it in red. In the caption they wrote, “Disseminating #FakeNews is not only unethical and illegal but it is also a disservice to the nation. It is the responsibility of everyone to reject irresponsible behaviour. Reject #FakeNews”.
The tweet by Fact Checker MOBI was also reposted by the Ministry of Finance.
Later on the same day, the Ministry of Finance verified on their official X account that the notification circulating on social media is false.
Caretaker Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Murtaza Solangi, also debunked the claim. The post caption reads, “This is fake. The Govt of Pakistan shall act against the people spreading this kind of fake news to create chaos.”
The notification also has different font sizes and structures, something not typically seen in government documents, which makes it unreliable.
This is not the first time such claim was made, in 2021 Soch Fact Check debunked that PKR 5,000 note will be discontinued and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
Virality
The false notification gained mixed views on social media. Some people shared it, confused about whether it was true or not, while others believed it to be true. Some more posts can be seen here, here, and here on Facebook.
Conclusion: The Government of Pakistan did not issue a notification banning the Rs 5000 note from 30 September 2023.
Note: This fact check has been updated on 14 September 2023 to include an X post by the Ministry of Finance stating that the notification in question is “false information”.
To submit an appeal on our fact-check, please send an email to appeals@sochfactcheck.com