Your options depend mainly on whether the bond is a bearer Prize Bond, a damaged physical bond, or a registered Premium Prize Bond.
That distinction changes everything.
A lost bearer Prize Bond cannot simply be replaced under the current Prize Bonds Refund Rules. A damaged bearer bond may qualify for face-value refund if enough of the genuine bond remains. A lost registered Premium Prize Bond can be reported and replaced through the official Premium Prize Bond procedure because ownership is recorded in the investor’s name.
Quick Answer
| Situation | Ownership Record | Possible Remedy | Who to Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lost bearer Rs.100, Rs.200, Rs.750 or Rs.1,500 bond | No individual registration record like a Premium Bond | Current refund rules do not allow a claim for a bond that is lost, stolen or wholly destroyed | SBP BSC / National Savings for official guidance |
| Damaged or mutilated bearer bond | Physical bond remains available | Face-value refund may be considered if sufficient genuine portion remains | Authorized SBP BSC office |
| Lost registered Rs.25,000 or Rs.40,000 Premium Prize Bond | Registered in investor’s name | Report loss and apply for replacement with a new serial number | Office of Issue |
For current Premium Bond rules, see Premium Prize Bonds.
I Lost a Bearer Prize Bond
This is the most difficult situation.
The active Rs.100, Rs.200, Rs.750 and Rs.1,500 National Prize Bonds are bearer instruments. Unlike a Premium Prize Bond, there is no individual ownership registration attached to the physical bearer bond in the normal scheme.
The current Prize Bonds Refund Rules, 1963 state that no claim is entertained for a bond alleged to have been:
- lost
- stolen
- wholly destroyed
The same rule applies where the portion presented is not more than half of the original bond.
So if you completely lose an ordinary bearer Prize Bond, do not assume National Savings or SBP can simply issue another bond with the same number.
Under the current refund rules reviewed for this page, they cannot treat a completely missing bearer bond in the same way as a lost registered Premium Prize Bond.
Scenario
You own a Rs.1,500 bearer Prize Bond and cannot find it anywhere.
You remember the serial number and may even have a photograph of the bond.
That photograph can be useful for your own records, but the current refund rules do not say that a photograph, receipt or remembered serial number allows replacement of the missing bearer instrument. The physical bearer bond remains critical.
My Prize Bond Is Damaged but Readable
A damaged bond is different from a lost bond.
If the original physical bond is still in your possession, the Prize Bonds Refund Rules, 1963 provide a process for claims involving defaced or mutilated Prize Bonds.
SBP currently publishes Form PB-1-A, Application for Payment of Face Value of Mutilated/Defaced Prize Bonds, for this purpose.
The authorized officer must be satisfied that the portion submitted clearly forms part of a genuine Prize Bond.
If the claim is accepted, the official rules provide for refund of the face value of the damaged bond.
Example
Suppose a Rs.750 Prize Bond becomes badly water-damaged, but:
- most of the bond remains intact
- the important printed details are still identifiable
- the submitted piece can be verified as genuine
The correct step is not to throw it away or attempt to repair it yourself. Take the remaining original bond to the relevant authorized office and ask about the mutilated/defaced bond procedure.
If you want the normal process for receiving a bond’s face value, also see How to Encash a Prize Bond.
My Prize Bond Is Torn or Partly Destroyed
How much of the original bond remains can matter.
The current refund rules state that a claim for a defaced or mutilated bond may be rejected unless the authorized officer is satisfied that:
- the portion presented clearly comes from a genuine Prize Bond, and
- the missing portion is too small to support another claim.
The rules also state that no claim is entertained where the portion presented is not more than half of the bond.
Scenario A: More than half remains
A Prize Bond is accidentally torn, but you still have most of it.
Do not discard any fragments.
Keep every part you can find and present them through the official mutilated-bond procedure. The authorized officer, not the bond holder, decides whether the remaining portion qualifies.
Scenario B: Less than half remains
A fire destroys most of the bond and only a small corner survives.
Under the current refund rules, if the portion presented is not more than half, the claim is not entertained.
This is why damaged and wholly destroyed bonds should not be treated as the same situation.
I Lost a Registered Premium Prize Bond
The rules are much more practical for registered Premium Prize Bonds.
Rs.25,000 and Rs.40,000 Premium Prize Bonds are registered in the investor’s name.
The official Premium Prize Bond Rules state that a registered investor who loses a bond should submit the prescribed application, PPB-7 or PPB-7(A), as applicable, together with a legible copy of the FIR for issuance of a duplicate/replacement bond.
After the required verification, a new Premium Prize Bond with a different serial number but the same face value is issued in the name of the registered investor.
SBP’s Premium Prize Bond FAQ gives the same practical procedure: the investor should personally visit the Office of Issue, report the loss, submit the prescribed application and FIR/NC, and complete verification.
Example
You lose a registered Rs.40,000 Premium Prize Bond.
Because National Savings/SBP records identify you as the registered investor, the loss does not depend only on possession of the missing paper instrument.
You should:
- report the loss
- obtain the required FIR or NC documentation
- visit the Office of Issue
- submit the prescribed Premium Prize Bond loss form
- complete the verification process
A replacement bond of the same face value is then issued with a new number under the applicable rules.
See Premium Prize Bonds for the wider registered-bond procedure.
What If the Lost Bond Later Wins?
For a lost bearer Prize Bond, this is a serious problem because claiming prize money normally requires the winning instrument.
National Savings’ current FAQ states that a prize claim requires the claim form and supporting documentation, while bearer-bond ownership is tied to possession of the physical instrument.
If you know the number of a lost bearer bond and later see that number in a draw result, do not assume the recorded number alone gives you an enforceable prize claim.
The current refund rules specifically reject claims for the face value of a bond alleged to be lost, stolen or wholly destroyed.
For a registered Premium Prize Bond, the situation is different because the investor and bond are recorded in the official registration system. Loss can be formally reported and replacement procedures exist.
If you still physically hold a winning bond and need to receive the prize, see How to Claim a Prize Bond.
Can a Lost Bearer Bond Be Blocked?
The official National Savings and SBP material reviewed for this page does not provide a normal lost-bearer-bond blocking mechanism comparable to the loss procedure available for registered Premium Prize Bonds.
That difference follows from the structure of the two products.
A Premium Prize Bond is registered against an investor.
An ordinary bearer bond is based on possession of the physical instrument.
Therefore, do not assume that reporting an ordinary Rs.100, Rs.200, Rs.750 or Rs.1,500 bearer bond as lost automatically freezes, cancels or replaces that bond.
If a particular loss involves theft, fraud or another dispute, contact SBP BSC or National Savings for case-specific official guidance rather than relying on informal advice.
Documents to Keep for Premium Bonds
Registered Premium Prize Bond investors should keep their records organized even though ownership is registered.
Useful records include:
- CNIC or other registered identity document
- bank-account information connected with the Premium Bond registration
- purchase/application documents
- bond serial numbers
- copies or photographs of the physical bonds
- any correspondence or receipts connected with the purchase
- FIR or NC if a bond is lost
A photograph does not replace the prescribed loss procedure, but having the serial number and purchase details can make it easier to identify the instrument when reporting the loss.
SBP’s Premium Prize Bond rules specifically require the registered investor to submit the prescribed loss application and FIR documentation for replacement.
Where to Get Official Help
For a damaged bearer Prize Bond, start with SBP BSC and ask about the PB-1-A mutilated/defaced Prize Bond procedure. SBP currently lists this form on its official National Prize Bond forms page.
For a lost Premium Prize Bond, contact the Office of Issue and follow the Premium Prize Bond loss procedure.
SBP also provides a customer facilitation portal for National Prize Bonds and Premium Prize Bonds, with its call center listed as +92-21-111-727-273.
National Savings can also provide current procedural guidance through its official offices and contact channels.
For common Prize Bond questions, see Prize Bond FAQs.
The Three Situations to Remember
A lost or damaged Prize Bond should never be treated as one generic problem.
Lost bearer Prize Bond: current refund rules do not provide ordinary replacement for a bond that is lost, stolen or wholly destroyed.
Damaged bearer Prize Bond: if enough of the genuine physical bond remains, a face-value refund may be considered under the mutilated/defaced bond procedure.
Lost registered Premium Prize Bond: report the loss through the prescribed procedure. After verification, a replacement bond of the same denomination can be issued with a new serial number.
That distinction is the key to knowing what to do next.
FAQs
Can National Savings replace a lost Rs.1,500 Prize Bond?
The current Prize Bonds Refund Rules state that no claim is entertained for a bearer Prize Bond alleged to be lost, stolen or wholly destroyed. Do not treat a lost Rs.1,500 bearer bond like a registered Premium Prize Bond.
Can a damaged Prize Bond still be encashed?
Possibly. A mutilated or defaced bearer Prize Bond can be considered under the official refund procedure if the authorized officer is satisfied that enough of a genuine bond remains. SBP publishes Form PB-1-A for this purpose.
What if only half of my Prize Bond remains?
The official refund rules say no claim is entertained when the portion presented is not more than half of the bond. The authorized office must examine the actual bond and decide whether the claim qualifies.
Can a lost Premium Prize Bond be replaced?
Yes. Registered Premium Prize Bond rules provide a formal loss procedure. After submission of the prescribed form, FIR documentation and verification, a new bond of the same face value with a different number can be issued to the registered investor.
Should I keep photos of my Prize Bonds?
Keeping serial-number records or photographs can help you maintain your own records, especially for registered Premium Prize Bonds. However, a photograph is not a substitute for the physical bearer instrument or the official Premium Prize Bond loss procedure.