ISLAMABAD (PEN) : The federal government has announced new profit rates across various National Savings Schemes, effective immediately, following routine economic adjustments influenced by inflation and monetary policy trends.
Key Profit Rate Changes
Regular Income Certificates: Revised to 11.16%
Special Savings Accounts: Average return now 10.77%
Defence Savings Certificates: Increased slightly to 11.79%
Returns on short-term savings certificates have declined:
3 months: 10.36%
6 months: 10.38%
1 year: 10.40%
The biggest impact is on two popular schemes for senior citizens:
Pensioners’ Benefit Accounts
Behbood Savings Certificates
Both have seen their rates drop significantly from 16.1% to 13.20%, affecting thousands of retirees who rely on them for fixed monthly income.
Updates to Islamic Savings Schemes
Islamic accounts have also undergone revisions:
Islamic term accounts: Rates adjusted (specific figures not disclosed)
Islamic savings accounts: Fixed return set at 9.75%
Revised Tax & Zakat Deductions
The new policy also updates tax and zakat deductions:
Withholding tax:
15% for filers
35% for non-filers
Zakat: Deducted at 2.5%, in line with Islamic financial law
These changes are part of a broader fiscal framework aimed at aligning public savings instruments with current economic indicators.
