Bearer prize bonds of major denominations including Rs40,000/-, Rs25,000/- and Rs15,000/- will become worthless after September 30, 2021 if no date extension announcement comes from the government.
The last date for encashment or exchanging the bearer prize bonds with denominations of Rs40,000/-, Rs25,000/- and Rs15,000 is September 30, 2021, which was already extended from May 31, 2021.
In order to comply with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for the prevention of money laundering and terror financing, the government had decided to document the financial instruments by the withdrawal of bearer prize bonds.
So far the government has decided to withdraw prize bonds of four denominations including Rs40,000/-, Rs25,000/-, Rs15,000 and Rs7,500. However, the last date for exchanging Rs7,500 denomination bearer prize bonds is December 31, 2021.
The government started withdrawal of bearer prize bonds with Rs40,000 denomination on June 24, 2019. Later, on December 10, 2020, the government announced to discontinue the circulation of Rs25,000 denomination prize bonds. In April 2021, the finance ministry announced that national prize bonds of denominations Rs7,500 and Rs15,000 shall not be sold.
It is likely the finance ministry extend the date for encashment / exchanging the bearer prize bonds beyond September 30, 2021. However, the decision in this regard has not been taken so far.
The finance ministry has issued the following procedure for encashment/exchanging the bearer prize bonds.
01. Conversion to Premium Prize Bonds (Registered): The bonds can be converted to premium prize bonds (registered) of denomination of Rs25,000/- and Rs40,000/- (subject to the adjustment of differential amount) through 16 field offices of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)’s Banking Services Corporation, and branches of six commercial banks i.e. National Bank of Pakistan, Habib Bank Limited, United Bank Limited, MCB Bank Limited, Allied Bank Limited and Bank Alfalah Limited.
02. Replacement with Special Saving Certificates (SSC) / Defence Saving Certificates (DSC): The bonds can be replaced with SSC/DSC through the 16 field offices of SBP Banking Services Corporation, authorized commercial banks and National Savings Centers.
03. Encashment at Face Value: The bonds will only be encashed by transferring the proceeds to the bond holder’s bank account through the 16 field offices of SBP Banking Services Corporation as well as the authorized commercial bank branches and to the Saving Accounts at National Saving Centers.
