Every quarter, the State Bank of Pakistan conducts prize draws for all active bond denominations. Winning numbers are published in the official gazette and on savings.gov.pk. But here's the shocking part: a significant portion of prizes go unclaimed every year. Third-prize winners (the most common category, with 1,696 winners per draw for Rs. 750 bonds alone) often don't even know they've won. The money sits in government coffers, waiting — but not forever. There's a hard deadline, and after that, it's gone.
Why Do Prizes Go Unclaimed?
People Don't Check Results
The most common reason by far. Many Pakistanis buy bonds and forget about them, never checking draw results. With draws happening quarterly for each denomination, that's hundreds of opportunities to miss. This is exactly why tools like PakBonds exist — to automate checking.
Lost or Misplaced Bonds
Bearer bonds (Rs. 100–1,500) have no digital record. If you lose the physical bond, you can't prove ownership. Many people store bonds in drawers, safes, or with relatives — and simply forget where.
Bonds Bought as Gifts
Prize bonds are a popular gift at weddings, Eids, and births. The recipient may not know they have bonds, doesn't track the serial numbers, and never checks results. Generational wealth gets lost this way.
The 6-Year Claim Deadline
Under the Government Savings rules, prize bond winnings must be claimed within 6 years from the date of the draw. After 6 years, the prize is permanently forfeited and reverts to the government treasury. This applies to all prize categories — first, second, and third. If you won Rs. 750,000 on a bond in a 2020 draw and haven't claimed it, you have until 2026 to collect. Don't wait.
How to Check for Unclaimed Prizes
Gather all your prize bonds — check drawers, safes, old wallets, and ask family members.
Note down the serial number, denomination, and any visible details for each bond.
Visit savings.gov.pk or use PakBonds to search your bond numbers against past draw results.
For older draws (2+ years), you may need to check archived results on the National Savings website.
If you find a winning bond, visit any SBP Banking Services office or National Savings centre with the bond and your CNIC.
How to Claim Your Prize
Once you've confirmed a win, claiming is straightforward. For third prizes (Rs. 300 – Rs. 18,500), visit any commercial bank that handles National Savings transactions. Bring the original bond and your CNIC. For first and second prizes, you'll need to visit an SBP Banking Services Corporation office. The bank verifies the bond, deducts applicable withholding tax (15% for filers, 30% for non-filers), and issues a pay order or bank transfer. For more details, read our How to Claim guide.
The easiest way to avoid unclaimed prizes is to automate your checking. Add your bond numbers to PakBonds once, and we'll scan every draw result the moment it's published. If you win, you'll get an instant notification. No more forgotten bonds, no more missed prizes. Set up takes 2 minutes, and it's free. Read our Automation Guide to learn how.
Got old bonds in a drawer?
Add them to PakBonds and we'll check them against years of past draw results instantly.
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