How to Claim a Prize Bond Prize in Pakistan: Form, CNIC and the Six Year Limit
Won a prize bond draw? See the claim form, the documents, where to submit, the six year limit and the 15 or 30 percent tax. Check before you travel to the bank.
Short answer: Fill in the prize claim form from the National Savings website, attach a copy of your CNIC and the winning bond, and submit it to a State Bank of Pakistan branch. You have six years from the draw date. Tax of 15 percent (filers) or 30 percent (non-filers) is taken from the prize.
The prize bond in the old biscuit tin has been there for years. You checked the list once, found nothing, and forgot. Then a draw result lands in your phone and one of your numbers is on it. What now?
We read the National Savings (Central Directorate of National Savings) FAQ page, its prize bonds page and its public forms page on 11 October 2026. We did not submit a claim ourselves.
You have six years from the draw date to claim
The National Savings FAQ says the maximum time to claim a prize is six years from the date of the draw. A bond that wins in two different draws can be claimed in two separate applications, each within its own six years.
The claim can usually be lodged a few working days after the draw. The FAQ page gives two answers: "3 or 4 working days" in one place and "4 to 5 working days" in another. So wait at least a week to be safe.
One more rule decides whether you won at all. Only bonds issued at least 60 days before the draw date qualify. That is the "shut period" in which the State Bank and other authorised sellers stop selling that denomination.
| Item | What National Savings says |
|---|---|
| Time limit | Six years from the date of the draw |
| When you can apply | A few working days after the draw (3 to 5, the page gives both) |
| Which bonds qualify | Bonds issued at least 60 days before the draw |
| Cost of the claim form | No charge |
| Tax on the prize | 15 percent for filers, 30 percent for non-filers |
| Damaged bond | Can be claimed, subject to clearance under the rules |
Check the number first on the official draw search
Do not trust a screenshot or a forwarded list. Open the National Savings website, use its Draw Search link, find your denomination and bond number in the list, and match the draw date. Keep the bond itself safe because the original is needed for the claim.
If you only have a photo of a bond, you cannot claim. The FAQ lists the original winning bond as a required document. So keep bonds in a flat envelope, not a wallet.
A prize bond is a bearer instrument. That means whoever holds it can claim, except for the registered premium bonds of Rs 25,000 and Rs 40,000. Before you claim, make sure the bond is real. We list the nine security features in how to check a prize bond is real.
Documents and where to submit the claim
You need the claim form, a photocopy of a valid CNIC, the original winning bond and a photocopy of the bond signed on the back. The FAQ says prizes up to Rs 1,250 can be claimed at several places. Larger prizes go to State Bank branches.
- Download the prize claim form from the National Savings public forms page.
- Fill in your name, CNIC number, address and bond details.
- Photocopy your CNIC, front and back.
- Photocopy the winning bond and sign the copy on the back.
- Take the form, both copies and the original bond to the correct office.
- Collect the acknowledgement and note the date.
The FAQ names the offices this way: prize money up to Rs 1,250 can be claimed from any National Savings Centre, an authorised scheduled bank branch or an SBP branch. Prize money above Rs 1,250 can be claimed only from SBP branches.
The public forms page lists a separate application, form PB-23B, for payment of prizes not exceeding Rs 10,000 from the SBP. The two pages do not match on limits. Check with the helpline before you travel.
Tax is taken from the prize before payment
Tax is deducted at source when the prize is paid. National Savings states 15 percent for filers and 30 percent for non-filers. The filer rate applies if your name is on the Active Taxpayer List, so check your status before you claim.
On a prize of Rs 100,000, a filer receives Rs 85,000 and a non-filer receives Rs 70,000. The difference is Rs 15,000. You can verify your listing in how to check filer status in Pakistan.
The rate is set at the time of payment, so confirm your status before you go to the counter, not after.
What if the bond is torn, lost or the claim is delayed
A damaged bond can be claimed, subject to clearance under the rules. A lost bearer bond is another story: it is like cash, and the page we read offers no recovery route. Keep the bond safe and sign only the photocopy.
If an office delays you, ask for the acknowledgement date and call the National Savings helpline, (051) 111 267 268, as printed on its prize bonds page. You can also email info@savings.gov.pk. For a general overview of denominations and draws, see prize bonds in Pakistan and the 2026 draw schedule.
Be careful with "agents" who offer to claim for a cut. You do not need one. The form is free, and handing over an original bond to a stranger is a risk.
Common questions
How long do I have to claim a prize bond prize in Pakistan?
You have six years from the date of the draw. A bond that wins in two draws can be claimed twice.
Where can I claim a prize bond prize?
Prizes up to Rs 1,250 can be claimed at National Savings Centres, authorised bank branches or SBP branches. Larger prizes go to SBP branches, per the National Savings FAQ.
What documents do I need?
You need the claim form, a CNIC photocopy, the original bond and a signed photocopy of the bond.
How much tax is deducted from a prize?
It is 15 percent for filers and 30 percent for non-filers, taken at the time of payment.
Is there a fee for the claim form?
No. National Savings says there are no charges for the prize claim form.
Can I claim with a damaged bond?
Yes, subject to clearance under the rules. Take the pieces with you.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on Sunday 11 October 2026. We read the National Savings FAQ page, its prize bonds page and its public forms page. The FAQ page and the forms page give different office limits, and the FAQ gives two timings for lodging a claim, so we say so above. Ask the helpline before you travel. We did not submit a claim ourselves.
About the author
Global Affairs & Political Economy Writer
Muhammad Hatim is a book lover who started writing because he enjoys it. At Pakistan Era he writes about international relations, geopolitics and the global economy, with a particular interest in South Asia and the forces behind current events.
