How to Buy a Short Term Savings Certificate in Pakistan: 3, 6 or 12 Months From Rs 10,000
Buy a Short Term Savings Certificate from National Savings in Pakistan: 3, 6 or 12 months from Rs 10,000. See the form, papers, early cash-in rule and tax.
Short answer: A Short Term Savings Certificate from National Savings runs for 3 months, 6 months or 1 year. The minimum is Rs 10,000 and there is no maximum. Profit is paid when the certificate matures. You can cash it in no earlier than one month after it is issued.
Some savers do not want to lock money for years. A Short Term Savings Certificate, or STSC, suits a bonus, a sale of a car or money you will need within the year. It is a government scheme run by the Central Directorate of National Savings.
We read the product page and the FAQ page on savings.gov.pk on 13 October 2026, and the rate page, which carries the date "w.e.f. 01-10-2026". The rates themselves sit in an image there, so for numbers we point you to our rates page.
The scheme has three terms and starts at Rs 10,000
The STSC comes in 3-month, 6-month and 1-year terms. Denominations run from Rs 10,000 up to Rs 10,000,000, and the minimum is Rs 10,000 with no limit on the maximum. The scheme was launched on 1 July 2012.
The product page lists these denominations: Rs 10,000, Rs 50,000, Rs 100,000, Rs 500,000, Rs 1,000,000, Rs 5,000,000 and Rs 10,000,000. You buy in those sizes. A Rs 75,000 investment would be made with a Rs 50,000 and the next size or a different mix. Ask the counter how it splits an amount.
Profit is paid at maturity, not every month
The page says profit is due on completion of the maturity period. So you get nothing monthly. You collect the profit with your money when the 3 months, 6 months or 1 year are over. If you need monthly income, this is the wrong product.
For a monthly payout, look at Regular Income Certificates. For six-monthly payout, see the Special Savings Account. To see this scheme's rates against others, read National Savings profit rates from 1 October 2026, which lists the 3-month, 6-month and 12-month rates.
Buy it in five steps at a National Savings Centre
You buy at any National Savings Centre. You fill the SC-1 application form, which is free, attach your identity copy and pay. The certificate is issued at once for cash. For a cheque, draft or pay order it is issued after the payment clears.
- Visit any National Savings Centre and ask for the SC-1 form.
- Fill in the form. Choose single, joint or minor, and the term.
- Attach a copy of your CNIC. Overseas Pakistanis attach a NICOP or Pakistan Origin Card copy. A minor needs Form B or a CRC.
- Pay by cash, cheque, draft or pay order.
- Collect the certificate. For a cheque, it takes effect from the date the cheque clears.
The FAQ says anyone can buy, as a single adult, a minor, or two adults jointly. For the joint options, read how to choose Joint-A or Joint-B.
Cashing in early is allowed only after one month
The STSC is encashed at the office of issue, no earlier than one month after issue. Profit is due only on completion of the maturity period. The pages we read do not say what profit, if any, you get for an early cash-in.
The FAQ says STSCs can be pledged and transferred. If you may need cash before the term ends, ask the office exactly what you would receive. Our page on encashing National Savings Certificates early covers the service charges on other products, but this scheme differs, so do not assume the same rules.
| Point | Short Term Savings Certificate |
|---|---|
| Terms | 3 months, 6 months, 1 year |
| Minimum | Rs 10,000 |
| Maximum | No limit |
| Profit | Due on completion of the term |
| Earliest cash-in | One month after issue, at the office of issue |
| Pledge and transfer | Both allowed, per the FAQ |
| Zakat | Exempted |
Tax of 15 or 30 percent is taken from the profit
The product page says withholding tax is 15 percent of the profit for filers on the Active Taxpayer List and 30 percent for non-filers, whatever the amount or date. The investment is exempt from Zakat collection.
The difference is large. On Rs 1,000 of profit, a filer keeps Rs 850 and a non-filer keeps Rs 700. Check that your name is on the list before you invest, in the Active Taxpayer List page. For Zakat, see Zakat on National Savings schemes. To judge whether the return beats prices, use the savings and inflation check.
Common questions
What is the minimum for a Short Term Savings Certificate?
Rs 10,000, with no maximum, as the product page states.
How long can I invest for?
3 months, 6 months or 1 year. Profit is due when the term ends.
Can I withdraw before the term ends?
Only at the office of issue and not earlier than one month after issue. Profit is due on completion of the term, so ask what you would get.
Is Zakat deducted on it?
No. The page says investment in STSCs is exempted from Zakat collection.
Can overseas Pakistanis buy it?
Yes. The FAQ says all Pakistani nationals and overseas Pakistanis can buy. Overseas buyers attach a NICOP or POC copy.
Which form do I fill in?
The SC-1 application form, free at National Savings Centres, as the product page says.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 13 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read the Short Term Savings Certificates page, the FAQ page and the latest profit rates page of the Central Directorate of National Savings. The FAQ shows "Last Updated: 26 August, 2025". We did not read rates from the rate image, and we did not find what an early cash-in pays. Confirm with the helpline (051) 111 267 268.
About the author
Technology Journalist & Multimedia Producer
Ahmad Ali is a technology journalist and multimedia producer at Pakistan Era, joining the team in October 2026. He covers consumer technology and digital life for Pakistani readers, combining research with hands-on product testing.
