“Investing is for rich people.” We hear it all the time, and it’s wrong. If you earn a small salary, you can still invest with low income in Pakistan, starting with as little as Rs 500. The State Bank just raised the interest rate to 12% on 26 October, and inflation hit 10.3% in September. That means money sitting idle in your wallet or a basic bank account is losing value every month. Here are three things you can actually invest in, without a big salary or a finance degree.
Before You Invest: Two Quick Rules
- Emergency fund first. Keep at least one or two months of expenses aside before you invest. Read our 2-month safety net guide.
- Become a tax filer. On National Savings profits, filers pay 15% withholding tax and non-filers pay 30%. Being a non-filer literally doubles the tax on your profit.
1. National Savings (Qaumi Bachat): Start From Rs 500
Government-backed, simple, and available at every National Savings Centre with just your CNIC. Rates went up on 21 October:
| Scheme | Minimum | Profit rate |
|---|---|---|
| Special Savings Certificates | Rs 500 | 12.00% |
| Defence Savings Certificates (10 years) | Rs 500 | Rs 100,000 becomes Rs 315,000 |
| Short Term Savings Certificates (12 months) | Rs 10,000 | 11.72% |
| Behbood Savings Certificates (60+, widows, special persons) | Rs 5,000 | 12.96% |
| Sarwa Islamic Term (1 year) | — | 11.84% (expected) |
Best for: people who want zero stress and a fixed return. Watch out: cash out early and you can lose some profit. Short Term certificates only pay profit if you hold them to maturity.
2. Money Market Funds: Start From Rs 1,000 on Your Phone
A money market fund pools your money with others and puts it into very safe things like T-bills and bank deposits. Big asset managers like ABL, MCB, Meezan, NBP and Alfalah all have them, and you can open an account through their apps.
- Minimum: some funds start at Rs 1,000, with top-ups of Rs 500 or Rs 1,000
- Returns: roughly 10–11% a year right now. For example, one Islamic money market fund showed 10.56% annualised over 30 days as of 29 October.
- Islamic options: available from almost every company
- Bonus: you can set up a monthly plan (SIP), so Rs 1,000 or Rs 2,000 goes in automatically every payday
Best for: people who want to save monthly and withdraw any time. Watch out: returns aren’t guaranteed. They’re low-risk, not no-risk.
3. The Stock Market (PSX): Small, Slow and Long-Term
Yes, even small earners can own shares. A Sahulat account is a simplified PSX account made for students, housewives and first-time investors, and you can invest up to Rs 800,000 through it. Every licensed broker offers one.
Too nervous to pick stocks yourself? Use an equity or index fund from the same companies mentioned above, with a small monthly plan.
Best for: money you won’t need for at least 3–5 years. Watch out: the PSX goes up and down, sometimes hard. Never put your rent, school fees or emergency money here, and never buy on WhatsApp “tips.”
So, Where Should You Invest With Low Income in Pakistan?
A simple plan for someone saving Rs 3,000 a month:
- Rs 1,500 into a money market fund (your easy-access savings)
- Rs 1,000 into National Savings certificates (your safe, locked savings)
- Rs 500 into an equity fund or PSX (your long-term growth)
Adjust it to your comfort. The point is to start.
The Rant
Here’s the uncomfortable math: with inflation at 10.3% and most of these options paying 10–12% before tax, you’re barely staying ahead. When you invest with low income in Pakistan, you won’t get rich overnight. But not investing guarantees you get poorer every single year. Committees and plots aren’t the only options anymore. Start with Rs 500, stay consistent, and let time do the work.
Also read: How to Save Money in Pakistan When Inflation Eats Everything
Disclaimer: this is general information, not financial advice. Rates change often, so check the latest figures with National Savings, the fund company or your broker before investing.
Sources: Pakistan Era (NSS rates), National Savings, Geo News, ABL, PSX, FinHisaab/MUFAP.