What is the smallest subunit of Pakistan’s rupee?

The smallest subunit of Pakistan’s rupee is the paisa. One rupee is divided into 100 paisas, following the decimal structure adopted for the currency in the twentieth century.

The Pakistani rupee has roots in the rupee system used across South Asia, whose name derives from the Sanskrit word rūpya, meaning shaped or stamped silver. Pakistan began issuing its own currency after independence in 1947, initially using inherited designs and overprinted notes before creating distinct issues.

Although the paisa remains the formal subdivision, inflation has made very small denominations impractical in everyday circulation. Paisa should not be confused with India’s paise or Bangladesh’s poisha, which are related South Asian subunits but belong to different national currencies.