National Savings Schemes Pakistan — Complete Guide to Rates, Types & How to Invest (2026)
Everything you need to know about Pakistan's National Savings Schemes — current profit rates, how to invest in Behbood, Pensioners' Benefit, Regular Income, Special Savings, and Prize Bond, and how they compare to bank deposits.
National Savings Schemes (NSS) are Pakistan’s most popular savings instruments — government-backed, virtually risk-free, and often offering higher returns than bank deposits. With over PKR 6 trillion in investor funds, they are the backbone of middle-class savings in Pakistan. This guide explains every scheme, current rates, and exactly how to invest.
Why National Savings?
| Feature | National Savings | Bank Fixed Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Government guarantee | ✅ Full — backed by Pakistan government | ❌ Insured only up to PKR 500K by PDIC |
| Profit rate | 18–21% (varies by scheme) | 16–19% |
| Premature withdrawal | ✅ Allowed (with some penalty) | Sometimes restricted |
| Minimum investment | PKR 500 – 10,000 | PKR 10,000 – 100,000 |
| Tax on profit | 15% withheld (filer) / 30% (non-filer) | Same |
| Zakat deduction | Auto-deducted unless exempt | Auto-deducted unless exempt |
Types of National Savings Schemes
1. Behbood Savings Certificate (BSC)
Best for: Women of any age, widows, senior citizens (60+)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Profit rate (2026) | ~15.36% per annum |
| Payment | Monthly |
| Tenure | 3 years (renewable) |
| Minimum investment | PKR 500 |
| Maximum investment | PKR 50 lakh per person |
| Zakat | Exempt |
| Premature encashment | Allowed after 3 months (reduced profit) |
Who qualifies: Women (any age), widowers, senior citizens 60+, and minor children through guardians.
2. Pensioners’ Benefit Account (PBA)
Best for: Retired government/military pensioners
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Profit rate (2026) | ~15.36% per annum |
| Payment | Monthly |
| Tenure | 10 years (renewable) |
| Minimum investment | PKR 10,000 |
| Maximum investment | PKR 75 lakh |
| Zakat | Exempt |
| Eligibility | Retired government pensioners only |
3. Regular Income Certificates (RIC)
Best for: Anyone wanting guaranteed monthly income
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Profit rate (2026) | ~13.80% per annum |
| Payment | Monthly |
| Tenure | 5 years |
| Minimum investment | PKR 500 |
| Maximum investment | No limit |
| Zakat | Applicable |
| Premature encashment | After 3 months (reduced profit) |
Example: Invest PKR 10 lakh in RIC → receive approximately PKR 9,775/month in profit (net of 15% WHT for filers).
4. Special Savings Certificate (SSC)
Best for: Fixed lump-sum investment, compound growth
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Profit rate (2026) | ~14.16% per annum |
| Payment | At maturity (6-monthly compounding) |
| Tenure | 3 years |
| Minimum investment | PKR 500 |
| Maximum investment | No limit |
| Premature encashment | After 3 months |
Unlike RIC, profit is compounded and paid at maturity — better for those who don’t need monthly income and want maximum growth.
5. Defence Savings Certificate (DSC)
Best for: Long-term savers who won’t need funds for 10 years
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Profit rate (2026) | ~14.40% per annum (paid at maturity) |
| Payment | At maturity only |
| Tenure | 10 years |
| Minimum investment | PKR 500 |
| Premature encashment | After 1 year |
Your money doubles approximately every 3.5 years at current rates.
6. Savings Account (NSS)
Best for: Flexible, liquid savings
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Profit rate (2026) | ~12% per annum |
| Payment | Half-yearly |
| Minimum balance | PKR 50 |
| Withdrawal | Anytime |
Lower rate but fully liquid — good for emergency fund parking.
7. Prize Bond
Best for: Those who prefer a lottery-style savings instrument
| Denomination | Draw Frequency | First Prize |
|---|---|---|
| PKR 200 | Quarterly | PKR 750,000 |
| PKR 750 | Quarterly | PKR 1,500,000 |
| PKR 1,500 | Quarterly | PKR 3,000,000 |
| PKR 7,500 | Quarterly | PKR 15,000,000 |
| PKR 15,000 | Quarterly | PKR 30,000,000 |
| PKR 40,000 (Premium) | Bi-annual | PKR 80,000,000 |
Important: Prize bond winnings are taxable — 15% for filers, 25% for non-filers. Premium Prize Bonds (PKR 40,000) are registered and require CNIC — winnings are fully documented.
No fixed profit — you either win a prize or get your face value back anytime.
How to Invest — Step by Step
Option A: At a National Savings Centre (NSC)
- Find your nearest NSC at savings.gov.pk → Branch Locator
- Bring documents:
- Original CNIC + photocopy
- 2 passport-size photographs
- Zakat exemption form (CZ-50) if you want to be exempt from Zakat deduction
- Cash or bank draft for investment amount
- Fill the application form for the scheme you want
- Submit and receive your certificate/passbook same day
- For monthly profit schemes (RIC, BSC, PBA): provide your bank account IBAN — profit is credited directly each month
Option B: Online via Sajhedari Portal
CDNS (Central Directorate of National Savings) has launched online investing:
- Go to savings.gov.pk → Online Services
- Register with your CNIC and mobile number
- Complete biometric verification (NADRA-based)
- Link your bank account (for funding and profit receipt)
- Select scheme and invest amount
- Certificate generated digitally — no branch visit needed
Option C: Via Commercial Banks (Selected Schemes)
Some banks (HBL, MCB) act as agents for NSS — you can invest through your bank branch.
Tax on National Savings Profit
| FBR Filer | Non-Filer | |
|---|---|---|
| Withholding tax on profit | 15% | 30% |
| Deducted by | CDNS at source | CDNS at source |
Example: PKR 1 lakh profit in RIC:
- Filer receives: PKR 85,000 net
- Non-Filer receives: PKR 70,000 net
Register as FBR filer — it saves you 15% on every rupee of NSS profit.
Zakat on National Savings
- NSS balances exceeding Nisab on 1st Ramadan are subject to Zakat at 2.5%
- To opt out: submit CZ-50 Form (Zakat Exemption Declaration) at time of investment
- CZ-50 is a legal declaration that you are not subject to Zakat under your circumstances
- Exempt schemes: Behbood, PBA are already Zakat-exempt by default
Use our Zakat Calculator to calculate whether your NSS holdings exceed Nisab.
NSS vs Bank Fixed Deposit — Which is Better?
| NSS (RIC) | Bank FD (1 year) | |
|---|---|---|
| Rate (2026) | ~13.80% | ~12–14% |
| Government guarantee | Yes (sovereign) | Up to PKR 500K (PDIC) |
| Monthly income option | Yes | Usually no |
| Flexibility | Medium | Low (locked for FD period) |
| Maximum limit | No limit (most schemes) | No limit |
| Tax treatment | Same | Same |
Verdict: For amounts under PKR 30 lakh, NSS (particularly Behbood or RIC) is generally superior — higher or equal rates with full government backing. Above PKR 30 lakh for Behbood, use RIC or spread across multiple schemes.
Key Takeaways
- Behbood Savings Certificates offer ~15.36% annual profit paid monthly — the best rate for eligible investors (women, seniors, widowers)
- Regular Income Certificates give ~13.80% with monthly payments — suitable for all adults
- Register as FBR filer to reduce withholding tax from 30% to 15% on all NSS profits
- Submit CZ-50 form at investment time if you want Zakat exemption
- You can now invest online at savings.gov.pk without visiting a branch
- Use our National Savings Calculator to compare returns across schemes and tenures