
Zakat Donations in Pakistan Surpass Rs. 600 Billion in 2024
A recent survey reveals that Pakistanis generously contributed Rs. 619 billion ($2.19 billion) in Zakat during 2024. This amount exceeds the disbursements of the Benazir Income Support Program (Rs. 592 billion) and the federal excise duty collections (Rs. 577.4 billion) for the same period.
According to a study conducted by the UK-based International Center for Tax and Development (ICTD) in collaboration with Lahore University of Management Sciences, around 50 million people participated in Zakat contributions, with an average donation of Rs. 15,000 per donor.
The report highlights that over two-thirds of Pakistanis prefer to directly assist individuals in need rather than relying on state-managed Zakat systems. Additionally, approximately 10 percent of donors allocate their Zakat to mosques and educational institutions, while a smaller percentage supports non-governmental organizations.
Interestingly, the total Zakat collected surpasses Pakistan’s official development aid received in 2022, which stood at Rs. 376 billion.