Islamabad, Feb 25: The Central Directorate of National Savings (CDNS) has secured Rs850 billion in fresh bonds, achieving 51.52% of its annual target for the ongoing fiscal year as of February 20, 2025. With an ambitious goal of Rs1.65 trillion for FY 2024-25, the directorate aims to strengthen Pakistan’s savings culture and enhance financial inclusion.
In addition to conventional savings instruments, CDNS has set a dedicated investment target of Rs170 billion for Islamic finance in the current fiscal year. This aligns with the growing demand for Shariah-compliant financial products and reflects the government’s commitment to fostering growth in the Islamic economic sector. In the previous fiscal year 2023-24, CDNS exceeded expectations by securing Rs1.742 trillion in fresh bonds, surpassing its set target. Similarly, in FY 2022-23, the directorate achieved Rs1.6 trillion in fresh bonds, well beyond the Rs1.3 trillion target for FY 2021-22, which was later revised to Rs1.4 trillion in response to market trends.
To modernize its services, CDNS is implementing institutional reforms, including the introduction of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) to improve accessibility for investors. These reforms aim to enhance customer convenience and streamline financial transactions. The directorate has also been actively expanding its Islamic finance portfolio, having set a Rs75 billion target for Islamic finance bonds in the previous fiscal year.
A senior CDNS official highlighted the growing importance of Islamic finance in the global economic landscape, emphasizing that many leading economies have integrated it into their financial systems. As CDNS continues to exceed targets and introduce new financial instruments, its role in shaping Pakistan’s savings and investment culture is becoming increasingly significant.
