The NWFP Senior Minister Sirajul Haq has lauded the co-operation of State Bank of Pakistan for promotion of Islamic banking and maintaining financial discipline in the province. He expressed the confidence that the bank would continue supporting the provincial government in economic stability and promotion of Islamic banking.
He was talking to Muhammad Humayun Khan and Ihsanullah, Chief Manager and Currency Officer of the State Bank respectively who called on him here on Wednesday and presented him the introductory of the newly issued currency notes of Rs 5,000 and Rs 10.
The bank officers highlighted salient features of the new currency notes and apprised the senior minister of the new security arrangements for checking the forgery.
Sirajul Haq while appreciating the design of the new currency note expressed the hope that State Bank would take effective steps for prevention of forged currency notes. He lauded the steps of changing design of the currency notes every few years in this regard. He said that former State Bank governor Dr Ishrat Hussain took personal interest in establishment of Riba-free Islamic branches under Bank of Khyber and provincial government pinned the same expectations with new administration of the bank.
The senior minister said that role of banks envisaged paramount importance in stability of the economy while the State Bank has succeeded in maintaining its unique status as an effective national institution.
He apprised the bank officers of the steps taken for financial discipline in the province, promotion of interest-free Islamic banking and future line of action and also assured full co-operation to the bank in this regard.
The senior minister said that MMA government was keen to introduce the NWFP especially its metropolis Peshawar as gateway to the Central Asia in respect of trade and commerce activities.