The Government of Pakistan, through the Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS), has officially revised the profit rates for various National Savings Schemes, effective January 23, 2026. This adjustment follows the State Bank of Pakistan’s recent monetary policy decisions and aims to align national saving returns with the prevailing market interest rates. While rates for long-term investments like Defence Savings Certificates have seen a moderate reduction, the government continues to offer high returns for senior citizens and pensioners to provide a social safety net amidst economic shifts.
Updated Profit Rates (Effective January 23, 2026)
The following table summarizes the new annual profit rates for the most popular National Savings products:
Key Highlights of the 2026 Revision
The January 2026 notification introduces several critical changes for both traditional and Islamic saving products:
-
Welfare Schemes: Behbood and Pensioner accounts remain the highest-paying instruments at 12.00%, despite a slight reduction. These are specifically for senior citizens (60+), widows, and pensioners.
-
Special Savings Stability: The Special Savings Account (SSA) showed a unique trend, with some tiers recording a slight increase or maintaining stability at 10.40% to attract medium-term investors.
-
Islamic Products: Shariah-compliant products like the Sarwa Islamic Savings Account (SISA) continue to gain popularity, offering competitive returns around 9.92% to 9.96%.
-
Short-Term Certificates: Rates for 3-month and 6-month Short-Term Savings Certificates (STSC) have been adjusted to approximately 9.58% to 9.64%.
Tax and Zakat Information for 2026
Investors should be aware of the following deductions applicable to their profit:
-
Withholding Tax (Filers): A 15% tax is deducted from the profit amount for persons on the Active Taxpayers List (ATL).
-
Withholding Tax (Non-Filers): A 30% tax is applicable for non-filers. It is highly recommended to become a filer to save 50% of your tax payment.
-
Zakat Deduction: Zakat is applicable on most schemes (except RIC and Shuhada accounts) as per the Zakat & Ushr Ordinance. Investors can submit a CZ-50 affidavit for exemption before the deadline.
How to Calculate Your Monthly Profit
If you invest in the Regular Income Certificate (RIC) at the new 9.96% rate:
-
For an investment of Rs. 1,000,000, the annual profit is Rs. 99,600.
-
The monthly gross profit will be Rs. 8,300.
-
After a 15% Filer Tax (Rs. 1,245), your net monthly take-home will be approximately Rs. 7,055. Existing investments made before January 23, 2026, will continue to earn the old rates until their maturity or the next profit cycle, depending on the specific certificate’s rules.