Zakat is 2.5% of the wealth that stays above a minimum threshold, called nisab, for one full Islamic lunar year. In Pakistan the confusing part is the rupee figure, because it moves every day with the gold rate. The thresholds do not move:
- Gold nisab: 7.5 tola ≈ 87.48 g
- Silver nisab: 52.5 tola ≈ 612.36 g
If you hold only gold, use the gold nisab. If your wealth is mixed — cash, savings, gold and silver together — many Pakistani institutions use the lower silver nisab.
Work out your zakat in four steps
- Note the gold and silver rate on your zakat date.
- Add cash, bank and savings balances, the value of your gold and silver, money owed to you, and business stock.
- Deduct the debts that have become due.
- If the total is above nisab and has stayed there for a lunar year, pay 2.5%.
Example: 10 tola of gold at Rs 300,000 per tola = Rs 3,000,000, plus Rs 700,000 in cash and savings = Rs 3,700,000. Minus a due instalment of Rs 200,000 = Rs 3,500,000 net. Zakat = 2.5% = Rs 87,500. Use the rate you actually see on your own zakat date, not this example.
What counts, what does not, how to value karat gold and the yearly bank deduction threshold: zakat nisab guide · gold only? Use the gold zakat calculator.
