Debate Erupts Over Proposal to Feature Nawaz Sharif on Rs5,000 Note; Saira Bano’s Remark Goes Viral
Karachi: A lively political debate has emerged after a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker proposed that the image of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif be added alongside Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah on Pakistan’s Rs5,000 currency note.
The proposal was put forward during a session of the Punjab Assembly by PML-N Member of Provincial Assembly Arshad Malik. He argued that Nawaz Sharif’s contributions to the country’s development deserve recognition and that featuring his image on the currency note would symbolically represent a significant period of national progress.
The suggestion quickly sparked widespread discussion both inside and outside the assembly, with social media users reacting through a mix of criticism, satire, and memes.
Adding to the debate, former Member of the National Assembly Saira Bano made a humorous comment that gained considerable attention online. She remarked that placing Nawaz Sharif’s image on the Rs5,000 note could actually help people save money.
“Whenever people take out the note, they will hear the phrase ‘Why was I removed?’ and immediately put it back in their pockets, avoiding unnecessary spending,” she joked, referring to a popular slogan associated with the former prime minister.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Punjab Assembly member Saima Kanwal strongly criticized the proposal. In a sarcastic response, she said that if such a trend continued, provinces should also be renamed after members of the Sharif family.
“One province could be called Nawaz Sharif, another Shehbaz Sharif, the third Maryam, and the fourth Hamza, while the country itself could be renamed ‘Sharifistan,’” she remarked.
The proposal has since become a major topic of discussion in political circles, with supporters and critics expressing differing views. Social media platforms continue to witness a wave of reactions, ranging from serious political commentary to lighthearted satire.
