What is Zakat and Nisab in Pakistan?
Zakat is the third pillar of Islam — an obligatory annual payment of 2.5% on qualifying wealth that exceeds the Nisab threshold and has been held for one complete lunar year (Hawl). In Pakistan, Zakat is both a religious obligation and a partially institutionalized legal framework under the Zakat and Ushr Ordinance 1980, which authorizes the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to automatically deduct Zakat from savings accounts on the first day of Ramadan each year.
The Nisab in Pakistan 2026 is updated annually based on current gold and silver market prices in PKR. With gold prices having risen significantly in recent years — from around PKR 14,000/gram in 2023 to approximately PKR 28,000/gram in 2026 — the Nisab has nearly doubled, making it essential to use an updated calculator for accurate 2026 Zakat in Pakistan.
The two Nisab methods used in Pakistan are the Gold Nisab (87.48 grams = 7.5 tola of 24k gold) and the Silver Nisab (612.36 grams = 52.5 tola). Pakistani scholars predominantly follow the Hanafi school, which uses the lower Silver Nisab — ensuring more Muslims participate in Zakat, benefiting the poor.
How to Calculate Zakat in Pakistan 2026
The formula is: Zakat = (Total Zakatable Assets – Short-Term Debts) × 2.5%
- Step 1: Set your annual Hawl date (the lunar calendar date when your wealth first exceeded Nisab)
- Step 2: Add all zakatable assets: gold, silver, cash, bank balance, salary savings, business inventory, national bonds, investments, and receivables
- Step 3: Subtract debts due within the next 12 months
- Step 4: Subtract any Zakat already auto-deducted by SBP on your bank account
- Step 5: Check if net wealth exceeds your chosen Nisab (Silver for Hanafi, Gold for others)
- Step 6: If yes, pay 2.5% of the remaining net amount to eligible recipients
Zakat on Gold in Pakistan – Tola, Grams & Karat Explained
Gold is the most significant zakatable asset for most Pakistani households. Understanding Zakat on gold in Pakistan 2026 requires knowing both the unit of measurement (tola vs grams) and the purity (karat).
1 Tola = 11.664 grams — this is the traditional South Asian unit still widely used in Pakistan for gold jewelry and investment.
Gold Karat Purity for Zakat
| Karat | Purity | Multiplier | 10 Tola Example (116.64g) | Zakat @ PKR 28,000/g |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24k | 99.9% | ×1.000 | 116.64g pure | PKR 81,648 |
| 22k | 91.7% | ×0.917 | 107.0g equiv. | PKR 74,872 |
| 21k | 87.5% | ×0.875 | 102.1g equiv. | PKR 71,442 |
| 18k | 75.0% | ×0.750 | 87.5g equiv. | PKR 61,236 |
How Much Zakat on 1, 10, 15, 20, 100 Tola Gold?
Below is the 2026 reference guide for Zakat on gold by tola in Pakistan at approximately PKR 28,000 per gram (24k):
| Gold (Tola) | Weight (grams) | Value (PKR) | Zakat 2.5% (PKR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 tola | 11.664g | ~326,592 | ~8,165 |
| 5 tola | 58.32g | ~1,632,960 | ~40,824 |
| 7.5 tola (Nisab) | 87.48g | ~2,449,440 | ~61,236 |
| 10 tola | 116.64g | ~3,265,920 | ~81,648 |
| 15 tola | 174.96g | ~4,898,880 | ~122,472 |
| 20 tola | 233.28g | ~6,531,840 | ~163,296 |
| 50 tola | 583.2g | ~16,329,600 | ~408,240 |
| 100 tola | 1166.4g | ~32,659,200 | ~816,480 |
These figures are based on 24k gold at approximately PKR 28,000/gram in 2026. Update the gold price in our calculator above for the exact current value.
Zakat on Silver
Silver Zakat is calculated at 2.5% of the current PKR market value if total silver exceeds 612.36 grams (52.5 tola). At PKR 180/gram silver price in 2026, the Silver Nisab is approximately PKR 110,225. This lower Nisab is why the Hanafi school uses silver — ensuring more Muslims contribute to Zakat and more poor receive its benefits.
Zakat on Cash & Bank Balance in Pakistan
All liquid cash is zakatable at 2.5% if net total exceeds Nisab and has been held for one Hawl. This includes cash in hand, savings accounts, current accounts, fixed deposits, and reliable money owed to you. The SBP automatically deducts 2.5% from savings accounts on 1st Ramadan based on that day's balance. You should account for this deduction and calculate any additional Zakat due on assets not covered by the bank deduction.
To avoid SBP auto-deduction (e.g. if you pay Zakat yourself or belong to a different Fiqh), submit Form CZ-50 to your bank before the first of Ramadan each year.
Zakat on National Bonds & Investments in Pakistan
The following instruments are zakatable in Pakistan at their current redemption/market value:
- Prize Bonds: Full face value is zakatable
- National Savings Certificates (NSC): Current redemption value
- Defence Savings Certificates (DSC): Current redemption value
- Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) shares: Current market value of zakatable shares
- Mutual Funds: NAV (Net Asset Value) of your units
- Cryptocurrency: Current PKR equivalent value
Rental income saved in bank accounts is zakatable. The property itself used for generating rental income is generally not zakatable (it is a fixed productive asset).
Zakat Calculator PKR & PDF Report
Our Zakat Calculator Pakistan 2026 provides a complete printable PDF report including all assets, Nisab status, net zakatable amount, and final Zakat payable in PKR. You can print it directly from your browser or share via WhatsApp. The report is useful for keeping an annual record and ensuring transparency in your Zakat obligations.
Historical Zakat Comparison – 2024, 2023
Gold prices in Pakistan have risen dramatically, making historical comparison essential to understand how your Zakat obligation has changed:
- 2023: Gold ~PKR 14,000/g → Nisab ~PKR 1.22M → Zakat on 10 tola ~PKR 40,824
- 2024: Gold ~PKR 19,200/g → Nisab ~PKR 1.68M → Zakat on 10 tola ~PKR 55,987
- 2025: Gold ~PKR 21,500/g → Nisab ~PKR 1.88M → Zakat on 10 tola ~PKR 62,694
- 2026: Gold ~PKR 28,000/g → Nisab ~PKR 2.45M → Zakat on 10 tola ~PKR 81,648
This 100% increase in Zakat on gold between 2023 and 2026 reflects Pakistan's high inflation and rupee devaluation. Always use the current year's prices for your Zakat calculation.
Cross-Reference with UAE Zakat Calculators
For the millions of Pakistani expats working in the UAE, Zakat must be calculated separately for assets in each country. Assets in Pakistan (property savings, gold, NSCs) are calculated in PKR using this tool. Assets in UAE (AED savings, UAE bank accounts, UAE investments) are calculated using our UAE Zakat Calculator in AED Dirhams.
Key principle: Zakat is paid where assets are held. Money already remitted to and given to family in Pakistan is no longer your asset and is not zakatable.
How to Pay Zakat in Pakistan
- SBP Auto-Deduction: Automatic from savings accounts on 1st Ramadan (can be exempted with CZ-50)
- Edhi Foundation: Pakistan's largest non-government charitable organization
- Akhuwat Foundation: Islamic microfinance and welfare
- Al-Khidmat Foundation: Linked to Jamaat-e-Islami welfare arm
- Saylani Welfare Trust: Food and rehabilitation
- Direct to eligible recipients: The eight Quranic categories (Surah At-Tawbah 9:60)
- Local mosques and madrasas: Widely used for local community distribution
Common Zakat Mistakes in Pakistan
- Forgetting gold jewelry: All gold (worn or stored) is zakatable under Hanafi — the most common omission
- Not deducting SBP auto-deduction: If SBP already deducted, subtract it from your total Zakat due
- Using old gold prices: Pakistan gold prices change frequently — always use current rates
- Ignoring Prize Bonds: Many Pakistanis forget that Prize Bonds are zakatable at face value
- Deducting full mortgage: Only the installments due in the next 12 months are deductible
- Wrong Hawl date: Zakat is due once per lunar year from the date wealth first exceeded Nisab
- Forgetting business stock: Goods held for sale (not equipment) are zakatable at market value