The government has officially set the Nisab for Zakat at Rs 179,689 for the Islamic year 1445-46 A.H., determining the threshold for Zakat deductions from savings bank accounts, profit and loss sharing accounts, and similar financial accounts.
A notification was issued on February 26, 2025, by the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Security to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and all Zakat Collection Controlling Agencies (ZCCAs), instructing them to implement the deductions accordingly.
The Zakat deduction is expected to take place on March 1 or 2, depending on the sighting of the moon, which will mark the beginning of Ramazan 1446 A.H. If an account holder’s balance remains below the Nisab threshold, no Zakat will be deducted from their account on the first day of Ramazan.
The notification, issued under the authority of the Administrator General Zakat, mandates that all relevant agencies comply with the announced Nisab and ensure proper deduction procedures. Furthermore, after collecting the Zakat, these agencies are required to submit a copy of the return of Form CZ-08 (A & B) to the ministry. The collected funds must then be deposited into the Central Zakat Account No. CZ-08, maintained with the State Bank of Pakistan.
The Nisab amount is called the minimum threshold required for charity deduction—is determined annually based on the market value of 52.5 tolas (which is nearly 612 grams) of silver. This guarantees that individuals with modest savings are not intolerably burdened by the deduction, while those with financial means contribute their share to support those who don’t have any means to support their selves.
To provide context, the Nisab for Zakat in the previous year (1444-45 A.H.) was set at Rs135,179, reflecting a significant increase this year. In 2023, the threshold stood at Rs103,159, highlighting a steady rise in the Nisab amount over the years, in line with fluctuations in silver prices and inflationary trends.
Charity is one of the fundamental pillars of Islam, it is the main step to redistribute wealth and help those who are suffering from severe poverty. The collected funds are typically allocated towards poverty alleviation, welfare projects, and social support programs, guaranteeing that financial assistance reaches the most deserving segments of society.