KARACHI (Kashmir English): The federal government has reduced the rate of returns on National Savings Schemes, according to media reports.
The announcement issued regarding the National Savings Scheme states that the annual return on Behbood Savings and Pensioners Benefit Accounts has been increased to 12.96 percent, while the monthly return rate on Regular Income Certificates has been set at 11.52 percent.
According to the announcement, a monthly return of Rs 960 will now be available on an investment of Rs 100,000 on Regular Income Certificates, while the first 6-month return on Special Savings Certificates will be 11.2 percent and the last 6-month return will be 12.6 percent.
The announcement further states that the annual return on the Martyrs Family Welfare Account has also been increased to 12.96.
National Savings services move towards digital transformation
The federal government is advancing the digital transformation of the Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS) in a bid to modernize services and improve accessibility for millions of savers across Pakistan.
According to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2025-26, the initiative aims to reduce reliance on traditional in-person visits to National Savings Centres by introducing digital payment solutions and online account management services.
The CDNS serves as the retail arm of the government’s savings network and offers National Savings Schemes (NSS) tailored for small investors, pensioners, widows and senior citizens. As of March 31, 2026, the NSS portfolio stood at approximately Rs3.6 trillion, representing nearly 10 percent of Pakistan’s banking deposits and 6.5 percent of the country’s total domestic debt.
Under the ongoing digitalisation programme, customers can now receive profit payments through cheques, ATM withdrawals and direct transfers via the Raast payment system, significantly reducing the need for account holders to visit savings centres physically.
To further improve accessibility, the organisation has launched a mobile application that enables users to access savings products and manage accounts digitally. Official data shows that around 350,000 debit cards had been issued by March 2026, while the number of active mobile application users reached approximately 90,000.
As part of efforts to expand digital financial services, CDNS has also soft-launched a co-branded credit card in collaboration with the Bank of Punjab.
The reforms come at a time when Pakistan continues to face challenges in increasing formal household savings. Despite the availability of National Savings Schemes, a significant portion of personal savings remains invested in informal assets such as real estate, gold, and foreign currency.
