State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in their press release claimed that the SMS service of 8877 for issuance of new currency notes was very successful.
According to the press release SBP received booking for 2.3 million people within 4 days of the service, it was expected that soon the total limit of 2.7 million will end.
Last year on Eid ul Fitr SBP provided this service to 1.8 million customers, through 1018 bank branches of 120 cities. This year the limit was increased to 2.7 million customers, 1535 bank branches and 132 cities.
When I tried to apply for New Currency Notes.
??? ???? ??… #StateBankOfPakistan #Eid pic.twitter.com/rt03wqPHh4— Nouman Younas (@Noumaan22) June 6, 2018
But despite the increase people complained about the problem in booking fresh currency notes. One of the major problems was that the branch code list was not updated on the website of SBP. Users had to try one code after another while they received the same message that ‘This branch has reached its booking limit’.
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— Kiran Qureshi (@Kiran_Blogger) June 6, 2018
On social media one user suggested that the list on the official website of SBP should be updated. ‘When someone tries a branch code where booking limit has been met the computerized message should direct him with a link of updated list of branch codes where currency is still available.
SBP clarified in their message that despite branches reaching its booking limit banks should continue to provide new currency notes from branches and ATMs as sufficient quantity of fresh notes is provided to them.