Rs15,000, Rs7,500 prize bond to be discontinued: notification

• Notification says government will no longer hold draws for the Rs 7,500 and Rs 15,000 bond.
• Notification says Rs15,000 bonds will no longer be cashable after June 30 
• Notification says Rs7,500 bonds can only be encashed till December 31.

The government on Thursday announced that it will be discontinuing the use of Rs15,000 and Rs7,500 bonds, according to a notification issued by the federal government.

The notification stated that the government will no longer hold draws for the two bonds.

The government said that Rs 15,000 bonds will no longer be cashable after June 30 and the Rs7,500 bonds can only be encashed till December 31.

Read more: Investment in premium prize bonds of Rs40,000 and Rs25,000 rises 29%

The notification stated that people who do not wish to cash the bonds can pay an additional amount and convert them into Rs25,000 and Rs40,000 bonds. It also stated that the users can convert those bonds into special savings and defence saving certificates.

The government said that the prize bonds can be encashed by people via their bank accounts. 

Govt stops sale of National Prize Bonds of Rs25,000

This is the second time that the government has stopped the sale of a bond within a year.

Last year in December, the federal government discontinued the sale of Rs25,000 National Prize Bonds, according to a notification issued by the Finance Division.

It was reportedly done to address the Financial Action Task Force’s concerns over money laundering and terror financing.

Read more: Rs40,000 premium prize bonds investment records 21% growth

At the time, existing bondholders were given the option to encash/redeem/convert their bonds by May 31, 2021 in the following ways:

1. The bonds can be converted to Premium Prize Bonds (Registered) through the 16 field offices of the State Bank of Pakistan's Banking Services Corporations or through branches of six commercial banks, namely National Bank of Pakistan, Habib Bank Limited, United Bank Limited, MCB Bank Limited, Allied Bank Limited and Bank Alfalah Limited.

2. The bonds can also be converted to Special Savings Certificates or Defence Savings Certificates through SBP's field offices, authorised commerical banks or National Savings Centres.

3. The bonds can be encashed through transferring the proceeds to the holder's bank account through SBP's field offices, authorised commerical banks or National Savings Centres.

Read more: Rs 40,000 Prize Bonds worth Rs 180 billion withdrawn

People opting to cash out their bonds were told they will only be able to transfer money to their account in person.

The notification also stated that to get the prize money the person will have to submit the prize bond and give a copy of their CNIC to the SBP.

New registered prize bond

At the time, the Finance Division, in a separate notification, issued a new Premium Prize Bond of Rs25,000 with “immediate effect”.

Under the new bond, two first place prizes of Rs30 million will be awarded, while five second place prizes worth 10 million will also be given. The bond will have 700 prizes for third place of Rs0.3 million each. The draw for the prize bonds will be held quarterly.

Read more: Rs40,000 prize bonds worth Rs152 billion encashed 

The registered bond will also give 1.79% biannual profit to the bond holders.

Meanwhile, those who have an unregistered prize bond of the same amount can also buy the registered one.