05/11/2015
A national currency is a point of pride, seen as absolutely essential to the identity of the nation, like a stamp, a flag or a national anthem.
The national pride of many countries is deeply wound up in the maintenance of national symbols, of which the currency is one. This is particularly true of the younger nations of the world, who gained their independence in the last 60 years, since World War II. For many of them, the national currency (along with other institutions such as national airlines) is an important symbol separating them from their colonial past.
As other currencies of the world, the Pakistani Rupee fulfils certain criteria of which a few are mentioned below:
Name:
The name of the currency is chosen by the community, reflecting community identity, culture and linkage to previous forms of money.
The word Rupee derives from the Sanskrit word for Silver - 'Rupya'.
Value:
Different valuations of the note are represented visually, by using a different colour. Moreover the value of the currency is identified in the language used by the community, and in the language used by the country.
Notes issued pre-1971 were in both Urdu and Bengali. With the independence of Bangladesh, the Pakistani Rupee has only Urdu text.
The only exception from the above mentioned are the words 'State Bank of Pakistan' and value of the note, which are in English.
Graphic Representation of the Community:
Graphics chosen reflect the identify and livelihoods of its citizens. Graphics depict/have depicted issues such as: local vegetation, geographic features, objects or examples of community pride.
