A prize bond is a bearer savings certificate issued by the Government of Pakistan through the Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS). It pays no interest. Instead, four draws a year pick winning numbers for large cash prizes, while the money you paid stays completely safe and can be taken back at any time. This guide explains everything a bond holder in Pakistan needs to know — in plain language.
What exactly is a prize bond?
Think of a prize bond as cash with a lottery ticket attached. You pay Rs. 750 for a Rs. 750 bond; that Rs. 750 stays yours. You can walk into any National Savings Centre or authorised bank on any working day and get your Rs. 750 back. In the meantime, every draw for that denomination includes your number, and if it comes out you win a prize — from a few thousand rupees up to crores.
Because there is no interest, no lock-in period and no risk to the principal, prize bonds are one of the most widely held savings instruments in Pakistan. Many families keep the same bonds for years and simply check them after each draw.
Types of prize bonds available today
Two families of bonds are currently in circulation:
- Regular bearer bonds — Rs. 100, Rs. 200, Rs. 750 and Rs. 1,500. Anyone can buy them over the counter with cash and no paperwork.
- Premium (registered) bonds — Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 40,000. These are registered in your name with your CNIC, so they cannot be lost or used by anyone else. Prize money is credited to your bank account.
Older Rs. 7,500, Rs. 15,000, Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 40,000 bearer bonds have been discontinued. If you still hold any of those, they can no longer win a prize — they can only be encashed or converted. See the FAQ page for details.
How the draws work
Each denomination is drawn four times a year, roughly every three months, in a different city each time — Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, Faisalabad, Hyderabad and others. The draw is open to the public and is conducted by a committee under CDNS supervision.
Every draw produces three prize categories:
| Category | How many winners | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First prize | 1 number | The single largest amount |
| Second prize | 3 to 5 numbers | Depends on the denomination |
| Third prize | Hundreds to thousands of numbers | Smaller amount, many winners |
The complete list of every winning number is published the same day. You can read it here on our results page or download the whole list from the PDF library.
How to check your prize bond number
There are four easy ways, and all of them are free:
- Quick check — type your number into the Bond Checker on the home page and press Check.
- Advance search — check up to 500 numbers at once, or a full series of 2,000 numbers, against the last 12 years of draws.
- Camera scan — hold the bond up to your phone camera on the bond scanner and the number is read automatically.
- Save and forget — put your numbers in My Wallet once. We then check them against every new draw automatically and email or WhatsApp you the moment one wins.
You only need the digits. Series letters and the bond's colour are not used for matching.
What happens if you win
Your prize does not expire the next day. Under the current rules a prize can be claimed for six years from the date of the draw. That is exactly why we back-check old draws for every number saved in a wallet — a surprising number of people find a prize from three or four years ago.
Tax is deducted at source when you collect: 15% for filers and 35% for non-filers of the Active Taxpayer List. Our tax calculator shows you the exact amount you will receive in hand. The full claim procedure — forms, documents and where to go — is on the How to Claim page.
Where to buy and sell prize bonds
Prize bonds are sold and encashed at:
- National Savings Centres across Pakistan
- All branches of the State Bank of Pakistan Banking Services Corporation (SBP BSC)
- Designated branches of major commercial banks
Regular bonds are bearer instruments, so buying and selling needs no paperwork for small amounts; for larger amounts a CNIC is required. Premium bonds always require a CNIC and a bank account because they are registered.
Keeping your bonds safe
- Write your numbers down (or save them in My Wallet) — if a bearer bond is lost or stolen, whoever holds it can encash it.
- Keep bonds flat and dry; a torn or badly faded bond can be refused at the counter.
- Never buy bonds from an unofficial seller at a discount — fake and previously encashed bonds do circulate.
- For large holdings, prefer premium bonds: they are registered to your CNIC and cannot be used by anyone else.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Only checking the latest draw. Always check the last few years too — the claim window is six years.
- Checking the wrong denomination. A Rs. 750 number will never appear in a Rs. 1,500 list.
- Trusting a screenshot from social media. Verify against the official list every time.
- Waiting too long. Claim as soon as you can — banks are busiest right after a draw.