National Savings profit rates decide how much a government-backed savings scheme in Pakistan pays you, and when. The Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS) sets these rates for the Government of Pakistan and revises them several times a year. What you actually take home depends on the scheme, the amount, the payout schedule, withholding tax, Zakat and when you withdraw.
If you are looking for national savings profit rates today, start with the official schedule below. Then ask a second question: when will I actually receive the money? A higher rate is not automatically the better choice. A family that needs monthly income and a parent saving for school fees need different products.
Note: The graphics in this article are AI-generated illustrations for educational purposes. MoneyPulsar is not affiliated with the CDNS. The official National Savings logo is the property of the Government of Pakistan.
Table of Contents
National Savings Profit Rates Today: Updated Rates (w.e.f. 21 October)
CDNS announced its latest revision effective 21 October 2026. The table shows the official rate and the matching profit on every PKR 100,000, exactly as CDNS publishes them. Source: CDNS Latest Profit Rates.
Last Updated: October 29, 2026 (rates verified on savings.gov.pk)
| Scheme Name | Current Profit Rate | Payout Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Income Certificates (RIC) | 12.12% p.a. (Rs. 1,010 per month on Rs. 100,000) | Monthly |
| Special Savings Account (SSA) | 12.00% p.a. for profit no. 1–5 (Rs. 6,000 per 6 months); 12.80% p.a. for profit no. 6 (Rs. 6,400) | Every 6 months |
| Special Savings Certificates (SSC) | 12.00% p.a. for profit no. 1–5 (Rs. 6,000 per 6 months); 12.80% p.a. for profit no. 6 (Rs. 6,400) | Every 6 months |
| Defence Savings Certificates (DSC) | 11.94% p.a. (Rs. 100,000 grows to Rs. 315,000 after 10 years, a 215% total gain) | Accumulated value on encashment/maturity |
| Short-Term Savings Certificates (STSC) | 3 months 11.12%, 6 months 11.50%, 12 months 11.72% p.a. | At maturity: 3, 6 or 12 months |
| National Savings Account (SA) | 10.00% p.a. (no change) | Annually; credited on 30 June |
| Behbood Savings Certificates (BSC) | 12.96% p.a. (Rs. 1,080 per month on Rs. 100,000) | Monthly |
| Pensioners’ Benefit Account (PBA) | 12.96% p.a. (Rs. 1,080 per month on Rs. 100,000) | Monthly |
| Shuhada’s Family Welfare Account (SFWA) | 12.96% p.a. (Rs. 1,080 per month on Rs. 100,000) | Monthly |
| Sarwa Islamic Savings Account (SISA) | 11.84% p.a. expected (about Rs. 973.15 per month on Rs. 100,000) | Monthly |
| Sarwa Islamic Term Account (SITA) | Expected: 1 year 11.84%, 3 years 12.10%, 5 years 12.12% p.a. | 1 year at maturity; 3 years every 6 months; 5 years monthly |
How to read this table: Some figures are simple annual rates, SSA and SSC pay a different rate on the last installment, and DSC shows a cumulative maturity value. Do not compare them line by line. Behbood, pensioner and Shuhada products have eligibility rules. All National Savings profit rates above are before withholding tax and Zakat, where those apply.
What changed in National Savings profit rates on 21 October 2026?
If you are looking for the latest profit rates of national savings, here is how the new schedule compares with the previous one. Most National Savings profit rates went up in this revision. Here is how the new National Savings profit rates compare with the schedule that applied from 1 to 20 October 2026, taken from the CDNS historical rate sheets:
- RIC: 11.76% to 12.12% (monthly profit on 1 lac up from Rs. 980 to Rs. 1,010).
- SSA/SSC: installments 1–5 up from 11.60% to 12.00%; the final installment eased from 12.90% to 12.80%.
- STSC: 3 months 10.80% to 11.12%, 6 months 11.08% to 11.50%, 12 months 11.31% to 11.72%.
- Behbood, PBA and SFWA: 12.72% to 12.96% (Rs. 1,060 to Rs. 1,080 a month on 1 lac).
- DSC: 11.80% to 11.94%; the 10-year value of Rs. 100,000 rose from Rs. 305,000 to Rs. 315,000.
- Sarwa: SISA 11.33% to 11.84%; SITA 1, 3 and 5 years now 11.84%, 12.10% and 12.12%.
- Savings Account: unchanged at 10.00%, the rate in force since 26 May 2026.
Certificates usually keep the schedule that applied on your purchase date, so an older holding may still earn its original rate. New investments made from 21 October 2026 get the National Savings profit rates above until CDNS announces the next change. We will refresh this page when it does.
National Savings Profit Rates on 1 Lac: How Much Will You Earn?
The question behind national savings profit rates on 1 lac is simple: what will PKR 100,000 actually put in my pocket? The answer depends on the product. A 12% annual rate does not mean PKR 12,000 arrives at once, and not every scheme pays monthly.
Here is a worked example using today’s official SSA rate:
- Investment: PKR 100,000 (1 lac)
- Product: 3-year Special Savings Account (SSA)
- Official rate (w.e.f. 21 October 2026): 12.00% p.a. for profits 1–5, 12.80% p.a. for profit 6
- Profit payment: every six months
Step 1: Work out the annual gross profit.
PKR 100,000 × 12% = PKR 12,000 a year.
Step 2: Work out the six-month gross profit.
PKR 12,000 × (6 ÷ 12) = PKR 6,000, which matches the Rs. 6,000 CDNS publishes for each Rs. 100,000.
Step 3: Deduct withholding tax.
If you are on the Active Taxpayers List (ATL), 15% is withheld: PKR 6,000 − PKR 900 = PKR 5,100 received.
If you are not on the ATL, 30% is withheld: PKR 6,000 − PKR 1,800 = PKR 4,200 received.
That is the six-month cash payout before any Zakat that applies. It averages PKR 1,000 gross per month, but SSA does not pay PKR 1,000 into your account every month. You receive each six-month installment when it falls due.
Over the full three years, five installments of PKR 6,000 plus a final PKR 6,400 add up to PKR 36,400 gross. After 15% tax that is PKR 30,940; after 30% it is PKR 25,480. This assumes the schedule in force on your deposit date stays attached to your deposit, so check the rate sheet for your own investment date.
The same rate gives PKR 30,000 every six months on PKR 500,000 and PKR 60,000 on PKR 1,000,000, before deductions. Withdrawing part of the principal lowers future profit, and money withdrawn before six months earns no SSA profit on that deposit.
Profit on 1 lac across schemes
Need money every month instead? A PKR 100,000 Regular Income Certificate pays PKR 1,010 gross a month at today’s 12.12%. After 15% tax you get PKR 858.50; after 30% you get PKR 707. That is why the product you pick matters more than the headline percentage.
| Scheme | Gross payout | ATL filer (15% WHT) | Non-filer (30% WHT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| RIC (monthly) | Rs. 1,010 a month | Rs. 858.50 | Rs. 707 |
| SSA/SSC (six-monthly, profits 1–5) | Rs. 6,000 every 6 months | Rs. 5,100 | Rs. 4,200 |
| STSC 12 months (at maturity) | Rs. 11,720 | Rs. 9,962 | Rs. 8,204 |
| SISA (expected monthly) | Rs. 973.15 a month | Rs. 827.18 | Rs. 681.21 |
| Behbood/PBA/SFWA (monthly) | Rs. 1,080 a month | No withholding tax on these schemes (per CDNS) | |
The calculation you can reuse
For a simple annual rate with no compounding:
Gross profit = Principal × Annual rate × (Months in payout period ÷ 12).
Net payout = Gross profit − Withholding tax − Any other applicable deductions.
This shortcut works for the SSA and RIC examples above. It is not a substitute for the official CDNS schedule on products with different installment rates, daily-balance calculations or accumulated maturity values such as DSC.
Which National Savings Scheme is Best for You?
When comparing national saving certificate profit rates, look at the payout frequency as well as the headline rate. There is no single best answer among national saving certificate profit rates. Match the product to three things: when you need cash, how long you can stay invested, and how easily you can withdraw. Use the sections below as a decision guide, not a ranking of guaranteed winners.
For Monthly Income: Regular Income Certificates (RIC)
Best fit: someone who wants predictable monthly payments, such as a household topping up a salary or a retiree covering bills.
RICs have a five-year maturity and pay profit monthly from the date of issue. The minimum purchase is PKR 50,000, sold in fixed denominations. At today’s rate, every PKR 100,000 pays Rs. 1,010 a month before tax. They suit investors who plan to spend the profit rather than let it grow.
Imagine your household needs help with the electricity bill every month. An SSA that pays twice a year may have a similar annual return, but it will not match that bill’s timing. RIC is built for this monthly cash-flow problem.
RIC is not instant-access cash. CDNS allows early encashment, but deducts service charges of 2% of face value before one year, 1.5% before two years, 1% before three years and 0.5% before four years. There is no charge after four full years. A small rate advantage can disappear if you need your principal early.
Decision: choose RIC when monthly payouts matter and you can leave the principal alone. Keep your emergency fund elsewhere.
For a Lump Sum or Medium-Term Goal: Special Savings Account (SSA)
Best fit: a saver with a lump sum who can wait for six-monthly profit and is planning around a three-year goal.
SSA accepts deposits from PKR 500, in multiples of PKR 500, with no maximum limit. It pays profit at the end of each six-month period, with a higher rate (12.80% today) on the sixth and final installment. This can suit planned education costs, a future business expense or money you do not need for daily spending.
The low minimum is attractive, but three years is not truly short term. Deposits withdrawn before six months earn no profit. Check the withdrawal rules for each deposit.
If your real deadline is three, six or twelve months, look at Short-Term Savings Certificates (STSC) instead. They come in exactly those tenures, start at PKR 10,000, cannot be encashed in the first month, and pay profit at maturity. Today they pay 11.12% to 11.72% a year, depending on tenure. They fit a near-term date better than a three-year SSA does.
Decision: consider SSA for a roughly three-year target; consider STSC when the date is within one year.
For Long-Term Saving: Defence Savings Certificates (DSC)
Best fit: someone who can leave money invested for many years and wants a larger maturity amount rather than monthly income.
Defence Savings Certificates mature in ten years, with denominations from PKR 500. Profit builds up inside the certificate instead of being paid out like RIC.
Read the rate presentation carefully. The CDNS table shows the total percentage gain by each encashment year, not a yearly coupon. For the 21 October 2026 schedule, PKR 100,000 is worth Rs. 110,000 after year 1 (10%), Rs. 167,000 after year 5 (67%) and Rs. 315,000 at year 10 (215%). That 215% is spread over ten years and must not be compared with a bank’s one-year rate. Ask for the actual rupee amount payable on your expected encashment date.
The early-exit rule matters: CDNS pays no profit if a DSC is encashed before one complete year. Later values follow the schedule for your purchase date. A long holding period also exposes you to inflation risk: your rupees may grow while their purchasing power disappoints.
Decision: use DSC only for genuinely long-term money, after you have built an emergency fund and checked the maturity schedule.
For Shariah-Compliant Investors: Islamic Alternatives
Best fit: investors who avoid fixed-interest products for religious reasons and want a product with an explicit Shariah structure.
Conventional National Savings products such as RIC, SSA and DSC are interest-based arrangements. Many Islamic scholars classify such interest as riba. Do not assume the word profit makes a conventional certificate Shariah-compliant.
CDNS also runs a separate Islamic range: the Sarwa Islamic Savings Account (SISA) and the Sarwa Islamic Term Account (SITA). CDNS describes them as Wakala-bil-Istismar, an investment-agency arrangement backed by an Islamic portfolio, with product-specific profit and risk terms. Sarwa’s National Savings profit rates are “expected” rates: SISA is 11.84% today, and CDNS applies any change to all SISA account holders from the effective date. Do not confuse them with conventional certificates just because both are sold through National Savings.
Other options include Shariah-compliant mutual funds and Sukuk. Compare their Shariah-supervision disclosures, fees, liquidity and risks. Their returns are expected, not guaranteed, and fund values and Sukuk prices can fall as well as rise.
Decision: if Shariah compliance is essential, read the current Sarwa documents and the alternatives, and ask a qualified Shariah adviser about any structure you do not understand.
A special case: Pensioners, seniors and eligible families
Before you pick any of the options above, check whether you qualify for Behbood Savings Certificates profit rates, the Pensioners’ Benefit Account or the Shuhada’s Family Welfare Account. All three pay 12.96% a year (Rs. 1,080 a month per 1 lac) at today’s rates, the highest of the National Savings profit rates in the table. CDNS also says withholding tax is not collected on their profit and they are exempt from Zakat.
Eligibility and limits matter. Behbood is for widows, senior citizens and persons with disabilities; PBA is for retired government employees; SFWA is for families of Shuhada. The 21 October 2026 CDNS notice lists a Behbood minimum of Rs. 5,000 and a maximum of Rs. 7,500,000. Confirm the current limits with CDNS before investing.
For a broader comparison across alternatives, see our guide to the Best Investment in Pakistan.
The Inflation Reality Check
A bigger balance does not always mean more wealth. In Pakistan, inflation can shrink what your savings actually buy. The number to watch is your real return, not just the advertised National Savings profit rates.
A useful quick estimate is:
Real return ≈ Profit rate − Inflation rate.
Suppose a scheme pays 15% a year while prices rise 20% over the same year. The approximate real return is 15% − 20% = −5%. You earned more rupees but lost purchasing power.
Here is the concrete problem. Start with PKR 100,000. At 15% gross profit, you end with PKR 115,000 before tax. But goods that cost PKR 100,000 at the start of the year would cost PKR 120,000 after 20% inflation. Your money no longer buys the same basket. The exact pre-tax real return is (1.15 ÷ 1.20 − 1) × 100 = −4.17%; the subtraction formula is only an approximation.
Tax makes this worse. If 15% withholding applies to the PKR 15,000 gross profit, it removes PKR 2,250 and leaves PKR 112,750. In this simplified case, the after-tax real return is about −6.04%. In other words, profitable on paper does not always mean ahead of rising prices.
Run the same test on today’s National Savings profit rates. RIC pays 12.12% gross, or about 10.30% after 15% tax. Compare that after-tax figure with the latest inflation reading from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, not with last year’s headline. If inflation is above your after-tax rate, your savings are losing ground even while the balance grows.
National Savings can still meet income needs. Just compare after-tax profit with the inflation you actually face, and remember that a rupee certificate does not protect you from exchange-rate risk on foreign expenses.
Tax and Zakat Rules on National Savings
The figure in the National Savings profit rates table is usually not what you receive. The two main reasons are withholding tax and, on some products, Zakat. Treat them separately: tax is a legal charge on income, while Zakat follows its own rules and exemptions.
Withholding tax: Filer vs. Non-Filer
For the standard taxable National Savings schemes, CDNS and the FBR withholding tax rate card for tax year 2027 (updated to 30 June 2026) give the same rates on profit:
- ATL filer: 15% of the profit.
- Not on the ATL (non-filer): 30% of the profit.
CDNS says these rates apply irrespective of the date of investment and the amount. For example, PKR 10,000 of gross profit becomes PKR 8,500 after 15% withholding, against PKR 7,000 after 30%. That PKR 1,500 gap adds up over years of monthly or six-monthly payments.
A filer here means someone on the FBR’s Active Taxpayers List (ATL). Check your status before you count on the lower rate. Your final tax position depends on your own circumstances.
There are important exceptions. CDNS says withholding tax is not collected on profit from Behbood Savings Certificates, the Pensioners’ Benefit Account and the Shuhada’s Family Welfare Account. Do not apply the 15%/30% calculation to these products. For the statute-based rates, see the FBR withholding tax rate cards and each CDNS product page.
One useful comparison: on the same FBR card, profit from a bank account or deposit carries 20% withholding for ATL filers and 40% for non-filers. So when you compare a bank deposit with National Savings profit rates, compare the after-tax figures, not the headline rates.
Zakat: the Ramadan rule is not universal
For covered savings-bank and similar accounts, compulsory Zakat is generally deducted at source on 1st Ramadan, if the conditions, including the annual nisab threshold, are met. The standard rate is 2.5% of the Zakat-able balance. The government notifies the nisab each year, so do not assume last year’s figure still applies.
However, not every National Savings scheme follows that date or attracts compulsory Zakat at all. CDNS says Zakat on Special Savings Account principal is collected at the time of withdrawal. CDNS lists RIC and STSC as exempt from compulsory Zakat deduction, along with Behbood, PBA and SFWA. DSC, SSC and the Savings Account have Zakat collected at source as per the rules.
This matters. Do not assume every PKR 100,000 National Savings holding loses 2.5% automatically every Ramadan. The product, the amount, your eligibility and the scheme terms decide what happens.
If you qualify to make a declaration under the law, CDNS provides Zakat declaration form CZ-50. Submit it, correctly completed and attested, to the relevant office before the deadline, keep proof, and confirm that it covers your particular holding. CZ-50 is a formal declaration based on religious grounds, not a general opt-out. See CDNS Public Forms and the product rules.
How to Invest in National Savings (Step-by-Step)
Requirements differ for accounts, certificates and digital products. Here is the general route.
Step 1: Choose your goal and product. Decide whether you need monthly income, a lump sum by a set date or long-term growth. Confirm eligibility, minimum investment, withdrawal rules and the rate schedule for your investment date.
Step 2: Use an authorized channel. You can visit any National Savings Centre. RIC and DSC can also be bought at authorized scheduled bank branches and the State Bank of Pakistan, while STSC and the deposit accounts are opened at National Savings Centres. Pakistan Post runs savings-bank services at participating post offices, but do not assume every branch sells every certificate. Ask first, and check current National Savings profit rates on the CDNS website rather than an old counter notice.
Step 3: Prepare your documents. An adult Pakistani investor needs a copy of a valid CNIC. Overseas Pakistanis use a NICOP or POC, and a minor’s account needs a B-Form or Child Registration Certificate. Have your bank account or IBAN details, nominee details and source-of-funds information ready if asked. Bring a CZ-50 Zakat declaration only if you are eligible and want to file one.
Step 4: Fill in the correct form. CDNS uses DA-1 for deposit accounts such as SSA and the Savings Account, and SC-1 for certificates such as RIC, DSC and STSC. Pay by cash, cheque, draft or pay order. With cash, the certificate or account is issued the same day; with a cheque, it starts from the date the cheque clears.
Step 5: Consider the official digital route. CDNS has a National Savings Digital information page and an official digital account-opening portal. The products and identity checks available online may differ from branch services. Enter personal details only on verified official channels, never through links sent by unknown social media accounts.
Step 6: Keep records and track payouts. Save your certificate or account details, investment date, rate schedule and profit receipts. Check whether profit is credited automatically or needs a claim. Verify the tax withheld and keep the records for your income tax return. Before any early withdrawal, ask for the net encashment amount in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are National Savings rates fixed?
Not across all products. CDNS revises National Savings profit rates several times a year. Many certificates follow the schedule that applied when you bought them, while account products and new deposits may move to updated terms. Confirm the rate recorded for your own investment.
Can I withdraw my money early?
Often yes, but conditions vary. RIC deducts early-encashment service charges, SSA pays no profit on deposits withdrawn before six months, STSC cannot be encashed in the first month, and DSC pays no profit if encashed before a full year. Check the rules before investing money you might need soon.
Is National Savings better than a bank Fixed Deposit?
Not automatically. Compare the bank’s fixed-deposit rate with the relevant CDNS scheme on an after-tax, same-tenure basis. Bank deposit profit carries 20%/40% withholding on the FBR card, against 15%/30% on standard National Savings schemes. Then weigh payout timing, withdrawal penalties, access, inflation and any Shariah requirements. The best product is the one that fits your goal.
What is the profit on 1 lac in National Savings per month?
At the rates effective 21 October 2026, PKR 100,000 in RIC pays Rs. 1,010 a month before tax (Rs. 858.50 for an ATL filer). Behbood, PBA and SFWA pay Rs. 1,080 a month with no withholding tax, for eligible investors only. SSA pays Rs. 6,000 every six months rather than monthly.
Final Verdict: Choose the Payout You Need, Not the Biggest Headline
Monthly-income savers may prefer RIC, three-year planners SSA, and ten-year investors DSC. Shariah-conscious investors should look at Sarwa, Islamic funds or Sukuk, and eligible pensioners and seniors should check the dedicated schemes first.
National Savings profit rates are only half the story. Before you invest, ask for three numbers: the gross payout in rupees, the amount after deductions, and what you would get back if you exit early. Those figures tell you far more than a percentage in a news headline.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes and does not constitute financial or tax advice. Rates change frequently; always verify current rates at savings.gov.pk. MoneyPulsar is not affiliated with the CDNS. All graphics in this article are AI-generated illustrations, and the official National Savings logo is the property of the Government of Pakistan.
Syed Hamza Hasnain · Founder & Editor
Syed Hamza Hasnain is the Founder and Editor of MoneyPulsar. He researches and edits practical guides on budgeting, debt payoff, index investing, and retirement planning across our US and Pakistan tracks using primary regulatory sources. Learn more about our editorial process →