The Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS) has announced new profit rates for Defence Savings Certificates (DSCs), which will take effect from January 2026.
Introduced in 1966, the Defence Savings Certificates scheme aims to help Pakistani citizens, both at home and abroad, grow their savings over the long term. The certificates are available in multiple denominations, including Rs500, Rs1,000, Rs5,000, Rs10,000, Rs50,000, Rs100,000, Rs500,000 and Rs1,000,000, making them accessible to investors with varying financial capacities.
The scheme is open to adult Pakistani nationals, overseas Pakistanis holding valid NICOP or POC, and minors. Investments can be made individually under guardianship or jointly by two adults, or by an adult and a minor. Payments from the certificates may be shared among the named holders or received by a single holder.
Defence Savings Certificates can be purchased from any National Savings Centre (NSC), authorised branches of scheduled banks, or the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
Under the revised structure, Qaumi Bachat Bank has reduced the profit rate to 11.08 per cent. For an investment of Rs100,000 over ten years, the expected returns are:
Year 1: Rs109,000
Year 2: Rs119,000
Year 3: Rs130,000
Year 4: Rs143,000
Year 5: Rs158,000
Year 6: Rs176,000
Year 7: Rs197,000
Year 8: Rs222,000
Year 9: Rs251,000
Year 10: Rs286,000
Profits on Defence Savings Certificates are subject to taxation and Zakat in line with State Bank of Pakistan regulations. Withholding tax is set at 15 per cent for tax filers and 35 per cent for non-filers.
