For risk-averse Pakistani investors, retirees, and families relying on monthly cash flow, the Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS / Qaumi Bachat) remains the primary alternative to commercial bank deposits. Backed by sovereign government guarantees, National Savings products eliminate credit default risk.
Among its monthly payout products, Behbood Savings Certificates (BSC) and Regular Income Certificates (RIC) are the most sought-after. While both deposit monthly profit directly into an investor’s savings account or Raast-linked bank account, they cater to distinct investor groups and carry fundamentally different tax liabilities.
Below is an itemized comparison of their yield structures, eligibility restrictions, tax treatments, and early encashment penalty tiers.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Parameter | Behbood Savings Certificates (BSC) | Regular Income Certificates (RIC) |
| Target Audience | Senior citizens, widows, and certified disabled persons | Open to all Pakistani citizens (no age restriction) |
| Profit Payout Frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Product Maturity / Tenor | 10 Years | 5 Years |
| Denominations | PKR 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, 100,000, 500,000, 1,000,000 | PKR 50,000, 100,000, 500,000, 1,000,000 |
| Maximum Investment Limit | Single: PKR 7.5 Million; Joint: PKR 15 Million | No upper investment limit |
| Withholding Tax (WHT) | 0% Exempt (Zero tax deduction at source) | 15% for Active Tax Filers; 30% for Non-Filers |
| Zakat Deduction | Exempt from compulsory Zakat collection | Exempt from compulsory Zakat collection |
| Modes of Purchase | National Savings Centers (NSC) & designated commercial banks | NSCs, commercial banks, and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) BSC |
Yields and the Real Net Monthly Income Difference
National Savings updates profit rates periodically via Ministry of Finance notifications aligned with secondary market Pakistan Investment Bond (PIB) yields.
The deciding factor between the two products is Withholding Tax (WHT):
- Behbood (BSC): Offers the highest yield among all National Savings schemes. Under Section 151 of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001, BSC profits are 100% exempt from Withholding Tax. The gross profit declared is the exact net cash received in your account.
- Regular Income (RIC): Carries a slightly lower gross yield than BSC. Because RIC is subject to standard dividend/profit-on-debt withholding taxes, an active tax filer loses 15% of the gross profit, while a non-filer loses 30%.
Practical Impact: On an investment of PKR 3,000,000, a qualifying Behbood holder collects the full monthly profit check. A non-filer holding RIC receives a payout reduced by nearly a third due to automatic tax deductions at source.
Who Is Eligible to Buy Behbood Certificates?
Because BSC offers subsidized, tax-exempt returns, CDNS strictly restricts eligibility to vulnerable demographic groups:
- Senior Citizens: Pakistani nationals aged 60 years or above on the date of purchase.
- Widows: Female citizens presenting a verified death certificate of their late spouse, an official family registration certificate (FRC), and an undertaking confirming they have not remarried.
- Special Persons (Disability Quota): Individuals holding a NADRA Special CNIC with the disability logo or a disability certificate issued by an authorized Medical Board.
- Joint Holdings: Permitted between two eligible senior citizens or an eligible senior citizen and an eligible family member.
Regular Income Certificates (RIC), in contrast, carry no demographic restrictions. Any Pakistani adult, corporate entity, trust, or minor (via legal guardian) can invest without limits.
Early Encashment Penalty Rules (Service Charges)
Both certificates can be liquidated before their stated maturity dates, but CDNS levies deductions based on the completion date of the holding period:
| Encashment Period | Behbood Savings Certificates (BSC) | Regular Income Certificates (RIC) |
| Within 1st Year | Deduction of 1.00% of face value | Deduction of 1.00% to 2.00% of face value |
| Within 2nd Year | Deduction of 0.75% of face value | Deduction of 0.50% to 1.00% of face value |
| Within 3rd Year | Deduction of 0.50% of face value | Deduction of 0.25% to 0.50% of face value |
| Within 4th Year | Deduction of 0.25% of face value | Deduction of 0.10% of face value |
| After 4th Year | No deduction (100% principal returned) | No deduction (100% principal returned) |
(Note: If encashment occurs mid-month, any advance monthly profit already credited for that ongoing cycle is recovered directly from the principal before final disbursement).
How to Collect Monthly Profits
Investors no longer need to stand in physical queues at post offices or savings centers:
- Direct Credit Scheme (DCS): You can link your commercial bank account or microfinance wallet to your National Savings portfolio. Monthly profits transfer automatically on the due date via 1Link/Raast.
- Qaumi Bachat Digital App: Account holders can monitor profit payment schedules, download automated tax deduction certificates, and track certificate maturities online.