50 Million Pakistanis Contributed Rs. 619 Billion in Zakat in 2024
A recent survey has revealed that 50 million Pakistanis contributed a total of Rs. 619 billion ($2.19 billion) in Zakat in 2024, surpassing the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) disbursements of Rs. 592 billion and the federal excise duty collection of Rs. 577.4 billion.
The study, conducted by researchers from the UK-based International Center for Tax and Development (ICTD) and Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), found that the average Zakat contribution per donor was approximately Rs. 15,000.
Read More: Banks to Close for Public Dealings on March 3 for Annual Zakat Deduction
Zakat Distribution Preferences
The report highlights that more than two-thirds of Pakistanis prefer distributing Zakat directly to individuals rather than through the state-administered collection system. Around 10 percent donate to mosques and schools, while a smaller proportion contributes to NGOs.
Zakat Contributions Exceed Foreign Aid
The total Zakat contributions in 2024 also exceeded Pakistan’s official development aid for 2022, which amounted to Rs. 376 billion.
