How Much Zakat on 1 Tola of Gold in Pakistan (2026)
Step-by-step guide to calculating Zakat on 1 tola of gold in Pakistan: tola-to-gram conversion, nisab in tola, worked PKR example, and when to apply silver nisab for mixed wealth.
How Much Zakat on 1 Tola of Gold in Pakistan (2026)
Zakat on 1 tola of gold is 2.5% of its current market value in PKR, but only if your total gold meets or exceeds the nisab of 7.5 tola (≈ 87.48 g) and has been in your possession for a full lunar year (hawl). For a single tola (11.6638 g) held in isolation, no Zakat is due — you have not yet reached nisab. However, if you hold cash, silver, or business goods alongside that gold, Pakistani Hanafi scholars apply the silver nisab (612.36 g of pure silver), which at 2026 prices is significantly lower than the gold threshold and may make you liable.
1. The Tola Unit — Exact Conversion
The tola is the traditional South Asian gold weight unit used in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh.
| Unit | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1 tola | 11.6638 g |
| 7.5 tola (gold nisab) | 87.48 g |
| 52.5 tola (silver nisab) | 612.36 g |
Pakistani jewellers and banks quote gold prices in PKR per tola. Always verify the purity (24K = 99.9%, 22K = 91.7%, 21K = 87.5%, 18K = 75%). Only the pure gold mass is zakatable.
2. Nisab for Gold-Only Wealth
If your only zakatable asset is gold — no savings account, no cash above daily needs, no silver — the gold nisab of 7.5 tola (87.48 g) applies.
| Gold you hold | Nisab met? |
|---|---|
| 1 tola (11.66 g) | No — no Zakat due |
| 5 tola (58.32 g) | No — no Zakat due |
| 7.5 tola (87.48 g) | Yes — Zakat due |
| 10 tola (116.64 g) | Yes — Zakat due |
3. Mixed Wealth — Silver Nisab Default (Hanafi)
Pakistan is predominantly Hanafi, and the Hanafi default for mixed wealth is the silver nisab (612.36 g of silver ≈ PKR 85,000–100,000 in mid-2026, depending on spot price).
If you hold gold plus any cash savings, bank balance, or business stock, add the market values together and compare against the silver nisab in PKR. This is almost always the lower threshold and expands Zakat eligibility — reflecting the Hanafi principle of maximum charity.
Example of mixed wealth triggering Zakat on 1 tola:
- 1 tola gold (24K) at PKR 280,000/tola = PKR 280,000
- Bank savings: PKR 60,000
- Total zakatable wealth: PKR 340,000
- Silver nisab (approx.): PKR 92,000
- Result: threshold met → pay 2.5% of PKR 340,000 = PKR 8,500
4. Worked Example — Pure Gold Scenario
Suppose you own 10 tola of 22K gold, and nothing else:
- Pure gold mass: 10 × 11.6638 g × 0.917 = 106.96 g
- Nisab check: 106.96 g > 87.48 g → ✅ threshold met
- Market value: PKR 280,000 per tola (24K) → 22K price ≈ PKR 256,760 per tola
- Total value: 10 × PKR 256,760 = PKR 2,567,600
- Zakat due: 2.5% × PKR 2,567,600 = PKR 64,190
Note: some scholars value the gold at its weight-based pure equivalent, others at the full market price for the karat. Both methods are accepted; choose one consistently. Use our gold Zakat calculator for Pakistan to apply live PKR gold prices automatically.
5. The Hawl Requirement
Hawl is the continuous possession of wealth above nisab for one complete lunar year (≈ 354 days). The clock resets if your wealth drops below nisab during the year. Two common mistakes in Pakistan:
- Gifted gold at marriage: the hawl starts the day the gold enters your ownership, not the wedding date.
- Inherited gold: hawl starts from the date of inheritance being legally settled, not the date of death of the deceased.
6. Purity Quick Reference for Pakistani Jewellery
| Hallmark (common in Pakistan) | Purity | Zakatable fraction |
|---|---|---|
| 24K | 99.9% | 0.999 |
| 22K | 91.7% | 0.917 |
| 21K | 87.5% | 0.875 |
| 18K | 75.0% | 0.750 |
Gold-plated or gold-filled items are not zakatable — Zakat applies only to actual gold mass.
7. How to Give Zakat in Pakistan
The most common channels include:
- Edhi Foundation, Akhuwat, JDC — major national welfare organisations
- NRSP / microfinance platforms — community-level sadaqa and Zakat-eligible channels
- Direct payment to eligible family members (the eight Quranic categories, Surah At-Tawbah 9:60)
Always verify the organisation is a Zakat-eligible recipient (poor, in debt, traveller, etc.) rather than a commercial entity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I pay Zakat on gold jewellery my wife wears daily? A: Under the Hanafi position (dominant in Pakistan), yes — all gold and silver jewellery is zakatable regardless of use. Pay 2.5% of its value once nisab and hawl are met.
Q: Gold rates change every day — which price do I use? A: Use the market price on your hawl date (the anniversary of when you first reached nisab). Our calculator fetches live PKR prices from a Cloudflare-cached feed so you always have today’s rate.
Q: My gold is in a bank locker — does it count? A: Yes. Physical possession includes gold stored in a bank locker in your name. It is still your wealth.
Source References
- Al-Hidaya by al-Marghinani (classical Hanafi text on Zakat)
- AAOIFI Sharia Standard No. 35 (Zakah)
- Darul Iftaa (Darul Uloom Karachi) — Mufti Taqi Usmani
- Gold and Silver Nisab Values 2026
- Hanafi Madhab Zakat Rulings
Always verify your specific circumstances with a qualified scholar, particularly for unusual asset mixes or inherited jewellery.