Islamabad, January 24 : It seems Pakistan nationals are these days busy honing their artistic skills – on currency notes.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) continues to be irked with the notes damaged by overwriting, which was alleged to have become a common practice among the locals.

Following people’s habitual scribbling of phone numbers, anti-government slogans and attempts to show political affiliation, SBP had ordered all banks not to accept such notes.

With the introduction of a strict SBP policy in 2000, all currency notes bearing overwriting on Quaid-e-Azam’s image were dubbed as illegal and unacceptable.

“The SBP received a large quantity of overwritten notes before the circular had been issued,” the Daily Times quoted SBP spokesman Syed Wasimuddin as saying.

Wasimuddin further revealed that many currency notes were left with no hope of recycling owing to the different inks used on them. (ANI)