The State Bank wants new designs for rupee notes and the internet has some great suggestions

The State Bank of Pakistan launched an art competition for new banknote designs and asked artists, designers and art students to send in their designs.

What the SBP did not anticipate is X (formerly Twitter) users jumping at the opportunity to create some excellent memes — or should we say art?

Here are our top 11 picks for what the new currency could potentially be.

1. Chahat Fateh Ali Khan

Leagues better than Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Chahat is a national treasure who could be immortalised on the rupee note.

2. Dua (from ArshadReels)

Arguably the most famous Pakistani at the moment, Dua has celebrities and content creators all over the world remixing her reels. She is an icon and she IS the moment. Put her on all the money.

3. Hello Kitty X Pakistan

The collaboration we never knew we needed, but now that we’ve seen it we can’t get over it. This will definitely add some much-needed cuteness to the currency.

4. Babar Azam

This isn’t even a meme — we think most Pakistanis would agree with putting King Bobby on the Rs5,000 note. Perhaps a few years down the line this note will be a reality, after all he is one of the finest (pun intended) batsmen in the world.

5. Disappointed Cricket Fan

Speaking of cricket, perhaps no image from the game is as famous as the disappointed cricket fan — aka Muhammad Sarim Akhtar — who went viral for his reaction to the Pakistani cricket team’s performance against the Australian team. Putting him on the rupee can be a constant reminder of how unreliable our sports teams can be.

6. Batman

This design and the effort that went into it is impressive! Maybe Pakistan does need the Dark Knight to come and save it (and its economy).

7. Taylor Swift

Speaking of economy savers, perhaps Taylor Swift can come to our aid after she gave a $5.7 billion boost to the US economy, according to the Washington Post. We just need one concert — or maybe two or three.

8. Mahira Khan

Or perhaps, we can have a Pakistani superstar instead. Our only suggestion — use a picture of Khan from Humsafar instead because that was a cultural reset for our country.

9. Talha Anjum

Who better than one of the best rappers in Pakistan to feature on the Rs5,000 note? The sneer definitely adds to the overall vibe, and would definitely make anyone think twice before they spend money. Talha Anjum WILL be judging you.

10. Imran Khan

Netizens made several edits featuring Imran Khan and this one was our favourite. The editing on this has layers that keep on giving, from Imran in a superhero costume to “Daulat-e-Ishq Pakistan” (Bank of Love Pakistan). Perhaps it has too many pictures of Khan sahib but that is how his fans love it.

11. Chocolate coins

Surely, this would solve all national and international economic crises? The BEST suggestion, in our expert opinions.