Losing a Prize Bond does not have the same outcome in every case. For an ordinary bearer National Prize Bond, a lost or stolen bond cannot simply be replaced because ownership depends on possession of the physical bond. A registered Premium Prize Bond is different: the registered investor can report the loss and apply for a replacement.
Damaged bearer bonds are another category. If enough of the original genuine bond remains, a claim for its face value may be considered under the Prize Bonds Refund Rules, 1963. A damaged winning bond may also be considered for prize money, subject to official clearance.
- A lost or stolen bearer Prize Bond cannot normally be replaced with a duplicate.
- A completely destroyed bearer bond is also not eligible for a refund claim under the Prize Bonds Refund Rules.
- A damaged bearer bond may be considered if more than half of the genuine bond is presented and the claim otherwise meets the rules.
- A lost Rs.25,000 or Rs.40,000 Premium Prize Bond can be reported because Premium Prize Bonds are registered to the investor.
- For a lost Premium Prize Bond, the registered investor must use the prescribed lost-bond procedure and provide an FIR.
- Do not treat bearer and registered Premium Prize Bonds as the same type of instrument.
First Identify Which Type of Prize Bond You Have
This is the most important step.
As of September 2026, National Savings lists Rs.100, Rs.200, Rs.750 and Rs.1,500 as the current National Prize Bond denominations. SBP describes these ordinary National Prize Bonds as bearer Prize Bonds. National Savings also lists Rs.25,000 and Rs.40,000 Premium Prize Bonds, which are registered in the investor’s name.
| Situation | General official treatment |
|---|---|
| Lost Rs.100, Rs.200, Rs.750 or Rs.1,500 bearer bond | No duplicate claim for the lost instrument |
| Stolen bearer Prize Bond | No replacement merely because the previous holder reports it stolen |
| Wholly destroyed bearer bond | No claim under the refund rules |
| Damaged bearer bond with more than half remaining | May be considered under the Prize Bonds Refund Rules |
| Lost registered Premium Prize Bond | Replacement procedure is available to the registered investor |
The difference comes from registration. An ordinary Prize Bond does not carry the holder’s ownership record in the same way as a Premium Prize Bond.
What Happens If a Bearer Prize Bond Is Lost?
A lost bearer Prize Bond creates a serious problem because the physical instrument is central to ownership.
SBP specifically states that a duplicate is not issued when a bearer Prize Bond is stolen. Its explanation is that Prize Bonds of this type are bearer instruments, meaning the person holding the bond is treated as its holder for transactions and prize claims.
The Prize Bonds Refund Rules, 1963 are even more direct. They state that a claim will not be entertained for a bond alleged to have been lost, stolen or wholly destroyed. The same restriction applies where the portion presented is not more than half of the bond.
In simple terms
If you lose an ordinary bearer Prize Bond completely, keeping a photograph, photocopy or written record of its number does not turn that record into a replacement Prize Bond.
Records of your bond numbers can still be useful for checking draw results, but they do not replace the original instrument for an official claim.
What Should You Do If a Prize Bond Is Damaged?
Do not throw it away.
A damaged, defaced or mutilated Prize Bond may still have value if enough of the original genuine instrument remains.
SBP states that a bondholder can submit a claim for the face value of a defective or mutilated Prize Bond using the prescribed form. A damaged bond can be considered when more than half of the bond is presented and the claim is otherwise acceptable under the Prize Bonds Refund Rules, 1963.
The official refund rules allow the authorized officer to examine whether:
- the remaining portion is genuinely part of a Prize Bond;
- enough of the instrument remains to establish the claim;
- the missing portion is too small to support another claim; and
- there is no indication that the bond was deliberately altered or mutilated to create a false claim.
If the claim is accepted under the refund rules, the face value of the damaged bond can be refunded.
Can You Claim Prize Money on a Damaged Winning Bond?
Potentially, yes, but approval is not automatic.
National Savings and SBP state that prize money can be claimed against a damaged Prize Bond subject to clearance under the applicable rules. The physical condition and genuineness of the bond therefore have to be verified before payment.
If you believe a damaged bond has won a prize, preserve every piece of the bond and present it through the official claim channel. Do not tape over important serial numbers, security features or printed information more than necessary.
You can first check the number using the PrizeBondList.pk Power Search, but an online search result does not replace official verification of the physical bond.
What If a Premium Prize Bond Is Lost?
This is where registered Premium Prize Bonds provide a very different procedure.
National Savings currently offers registered Premium Prize Bonds in Rs.25,000 and Rs.40,000 denominations. Because ownership is registered, losing the paper instrument does not create the same situation as losing a bearer Prize Bond.
Under the Premium Prize Bonds (Registered) Rules, the registered investor should submit the prescribed PPB-7 or PPB-7(A) lost-bond application, as applicable, together with a legible copy of the FIR. The application is made to the office of issue.
After verification, a new Premium Prize Bond equal to the face value of the lost bond is issued in the name of the same registered investor. The replacement carries a different serial number.
Basic Premium Prize Bond lost-bond process
- Report the loss and obtain the required FIR.
- Get the applicable PPB-7 lost Premium Prize Bond form.
- Complete the application using your registered investor details.
- Submit it to the office of issue with the required FIR and any supporting identification requested.
- Allow the issuing office to verify the record.
- If the claim is approved, replacement Premium Prize Bond value is issued under new bond numbers.
SBP currently provides the PPB-7 Application for Lost PPB among its official Premium Prize Bond forms.
What If Only a Small Part of the Bearer Bond Remains?
The official threshold matters.
Under the Prize Bonds Refund Rules, no claim is entertained where the portion presented is not more than half of the bond. SBP’s operational FAQ expresses the rule from the other direction: a mutilated or defaced bond may be processed where more than half is presented and the claim is otherwise in order.
For example, possessing the serial-number corner alone would not satisfy the more-than-half requirement.
Keep all fragments you can recover. Let the authorized official decide whether the remaining bond meets the rules.
Do Photocopies or Photos Protect a Lost Bearer Bond?
They help with record keeping, but they do not convert a lost bearer bond into a registered instrument.
Keeping a private list or photograph of your Prize Bond numbers is still sensible because you can use those numbers to check future and historical draw results. However, the official claim process for a winning ordinary Prize Bond requires the original winning bond. National Savings lists the original winning bond among the required prize-claim documents.
This is why physical storage matters more for bearer bonds than for registered Premium Prize Bonds.
How to Reduce the Risk of Losing Prize Bonds
For bearer Prize Bonds:
- store them in a secure, dry place;
- avoid folding through the serial number or security features;
- keep them away from moisture, fire and chemicals;
- maintain a separate record of denomination and bond numbers;
- photograph or scan them for your own records;
- do not hand the originals to unofficial agents.
A record can help you identify what has gone missing. It cannot replace a lost bearer bond.
Lost or Damaged Prize Bond Guidance in One Rule
The simplest way to remember the official position is this:
Bearer bond lost completely: generally no replacement.
Bearer bond damaged but more than half survives: official assessment may be possible.
Registered Premium Prize Bond lost: report it and use the formal replacement procedure.
That distinction should be checked before submitting any form or approaching a bank.
PrizeBondList.pk is an independent information website and is not operated by National Savings, the State Bank of Pakistan or the Government of Pakistan. Official sources should be used for final confirmation of claims, forms and policy changes.
For related procedures, see our guides to claiming Prize Bond money, encashing Prize Bonds, Prize Bond claim forms and Premium Prize Bonds.
FAQs
Can I get a duplicate if my Rs.1,500 Prize Bond is lost?
No duplicate is normally available for a completely lost Rs.1,500 bearer Prize Bond. SBP identifies the current Rs.100, Rs.200, Rs.750 and Rs.1,500 National Prize Bonds as bearer instruments, and the refund rules do not entertain claims for bonds that are lost, stolen or wholly destroyed.
Can I report a stolen Prize Bond and stop someone else claiming it?
For an ordinary bearer Prize Bond, reporting the loss does not convert the bond into a registered instrument or create a normal duplicate-replacement right. SBP states that a duplicate is not issued for a stolen bearer Prize Bond.
Can a torn Prize Bond still be encashed?
It may be possible. SBP states that mutilated or defaced bonds can be considered under the Prize Bonds Refund Rules when more than half of the bond is presented and the claim is otherwise in order. The final decision rests with the authorized official after examining the physical instrument.
Can I claim a prize if the winning Prize Bond is damaged?
Yes, a damaged winning bond may be submitted for prize money, but National Savings and SBP make the payment subject to clearance under the applicable rules. Keep the original damaged bond and all remaining pieces for inspection.
Can a lost Rs.25,000 Premium Prize Bond be replaced?
Yes. The Rs.25,000 Premium Prize Bond is registered. The Premium Prize Bond rules provide a lost-bond procedure using PPB-7 or PPB-7(A), as applicable, along with a legible copy of the FIR. After verification, a replacement of equivalent face value is issued with a different serial number in the registered investor’s name.
Where can I get the Premium Prize Bond lost-bond form?
SBP BSC publishes the PPB-7 Application for Lost Premium Prize Bonds on its official Premium Prize Bond forms page. Use the current official form rather than an old downloaded copy from an unofficial website.