KARACHI, Nov 3 The State Bank said on Wednesday that fresh currency notes will be supplied to general public for the Eidul Azha.

The announcement said over 9,000 branches of commercial banks will start issuing fresh currency notes to the general public for the forthcoming Eidul Azha from Thursday. The SBP Banking Services Corporation has made elaborate arrangements for supply of adequate quantity of fresh currency notes to commercial banks depending upon their branch network. Each of the 16 field offices of the SBP BSC will provide fresh currency notes to the designated branch of each commercial bank. These branches will be responsible for delivery of these notes in quantities commensurate to the size of their branch.

The branches of commercial banks will issue only one packet each of Rs5 and Rs10 per person from Nov 4, 2010, till the last working day before Eidul Azha, 2010, on production of original Computerised National Identity Card along-with a photo copy of it, for record to the visiting general public or account holders. Branches, however, may also issue a maximum of five packets each of Rs5and Rs10 denomination fresh notes to their corporate clients on receipts of request on the company's letter-head duly signed by the authorised representative.

With a view to redressing the grievances of the general public, if any, in obtaining fresh currency notes from commercial banks, the SBP has established a Help Desk which may be contacted at the telephone numbers 021-32455463 and 021-32455470.