Which National Savings scheme pays the most?

Behbood Savings Certificates and the Pensioners' Benefit Account carry the highest rate and are exempt from withholding, but they are limited to senior citizens, widows, persons with disabilities and retired government employees, with a cap per person. For everyone else the Regular Income Certificate pays monthly and the Defence Savings Certificate compounds over ten years.

How much tax is taken from the profit?

Withholding under section 151 at 15% for filers and 35% for non-filers on most schemes; Behbood and the Pensioners' Benefit Account are exempt from withholding, with a reduced final tax rate for filers instead. Being on the Active Taxpayers List more than doubles what a non-filer keeps.

How often do the rates change?

CDNS revises them after State Bank policy decisions, usually every two to three months. The date on this page is the rate sheet in force; certificates bought earlier keep the rate they were issued at.

Accounts and certificates are opened at National Savings Centres with a CNIC; the Digital Savings app lets existing account holders invest and encash. Profit is paid to a bank account or at the centre.

Compare

National Savings profit rates: every scheme compared

11 national savings schemes from National Savings. Rates from the Central Directorate of National Savings' published sheet, with the withholding rules that decide what you actually receive. Prices reviewed 20 Sept 2026.

Profit paid

For

Type

Sort11 of 11

Behbood Savings Certificate
10 years · Monthly profit · Rs 1,050 a month on each Rs 100,000
12.60% a year
Profit paid
Monthly
Term
10 years
Minimum
Rs 5,000
Who can buy
Senior citizens (60+), widows, persons with disabilities
Pensioners' Benefit Account
10 years · Monthly profit · Rs 1,050 a month on each Rs 100,000
12.60% a year
Profit paid
Monthly
Term
10 years
Minimum
Rs 10,000
Who can buy
Retired government employees
Shuhada Family Welfare Account
10 years · Monthly profit · Rs 1,050 a month on each Rs 100,000
12.60% a year
Profit paid
Monthly
Term
10 years
Minimum
Rs 10,000
Who can buy
Families of shuhada
Defence Savings Certificate
10 years · At maturity profit · Rs 100,000 matures at Rs 300,000 after 10 years
11.61% a year
Profit paid
At maturity
Term
10 years
Minimum
Rs 500
Who can buy
Anyone
Short Term Savings Certificate
3, 6 or 12 months · At maturity profit · 12 months 11.28%, 6 months 10.86%, 3 months 10.86%
11.28% a year
Profit paid
At maturity
Term
3, 6 or 12 months
Minimum
Rs 10,000
Who can buy
Anyone
Sarwa Islamic Savings Account
Open, withdraw any time · Monthly profit
11.25% a year
Profit paid
Monthly
Term
Open, withdraw any time
Minimum
Rs 100
Who can buy
Anyone
Sarwa Islamic Term Account
1, 3 or 5 years · At maturity, bi-annually or monthly profit · 1 year 11.25%, 3 year 11.16%, 5 year 11.16%
11.25% a year
Profit paid
At maturity, bi-annually or monthly
Term
1, 3 or 5 years
Minimum
Rs 100,000
Who can buy
Anyone
Regular Income Certificate
5 years · Monthly profit · Rs 930 a month on each Rs 100,000
11.16% a year
Profit paid
Monthly
Term
5 years
Minimum
Rs 50,000
Who can buy
Anyone
Special Savings Certificate
3 years · Half-yearly profit · 12.00% for the sixth half-year; Rs 5,450 per half-year per lakh
10.90% a year
Profit paid
Half-yearly
Term
3 years
Minimum
Rs 500
Who can buy
Anyone
Special Savings Account
3 years · Half-yearly profit · 12.00% for the sixth half-year
10.90% a year
Profit paid
Half-yearly
Term
3 years
Minimum
Rs 500
Who can buy
Anyone
Savings Account
Open, withdraw any time · Half-yearly profit · unchanged in the September sheet
10.00% a year
Profit paid
Half-yearly
Term
Open, withdraw any time
Minimum
Rs 100
Who can buy
Anyone

Pick up to 3 to compare side by side. The link in your address bar carries your filters and picks.

Loading the comparison…

How this comparison is compiled

Every rate is read from the Central Directorate of National Savings' published profit-rate sheet on the review date, with the effective date the sheet carries. Minimums, maximums and eligibility come from the scheme rules on savings.gov.pk. The table is refreshed whenever CDNS publishes a new sheet, which follows State Bank policy decisions.

Source: Central Directorate of National Savings: latest profit rates, effective 4 September 2026 (National Savings), reviewed 20 Sept 2026.

Questions

Which National Savings scheme pays the most?: Behbood Savings Certificates and the Pensioners' Benefit Account carry the highest rate and are exempt from withholding, but they are limited to senior citizens, widows, persons with disabilities and retired government employees, with a cap per person. For everyone else the Regular Income Certificate pays monthly and the Defence Savings Certificate compounds over ten years.
How much tax is taken from the profit?: Withholding under section 151 at 15% for filers and 35% for non-filers on most schemes; Behbood and the Pensioners' Benefit Account are exempt from withholding, with a reduced final tax rate for filers instead. Being on the Active Taxpayers List more than doubles what a non-filer keeps.
How often do the rates change?: CDNS revises them after State Bank policy decisions, usually every two to three months. The date on this page is the rate sheet in force; certificates bought earlier keep the rate they were issued at.
Can I buy online?: Accounts and certificates are opened at National Savings Centres with a CNIC; the Digital Savings app lets existing account holders invest and encash. Profit is paid to a bank account or at the centre.