Zakat on shares in Pakistan is 2.5% of their market value on your zakat date if you buy them to trade. For shares you hold long term, you can pay 2.5% on the full market value (the simple, cautious way) or only on your share of the company’s zakatable assets. Mutual funds, National Savings certificates, prize bonds and crypto are all zakatable too, but some are deducted at source and some are not.
Last updated: 2 November 2026 by Ahmed.
Enter your investments in the “Investments” section of our free Zakat Calculator Pakistan to see your total zakat.
Quick Guide: Zakat on Shares, Funds and Savings Schemes
| Investment | Zakatable? | Deducted at source? | What to count |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSX shares you trade | Yes | No | Full market value |
| PSX shares held long term | Yes | No | Full value, or zakatable-assets share |
| Mutual funds | Yes | Some funds deduct for Muslim unit holders | Unit value (NAV) on your zakat date |
| Defence Savings Certificates | Yes | Yes, collected at source | Principal |
| Special Savings Certificates | Yes | Yes, collected at source | Principal |
| Regular Income Certificates | Yes | No (exempt from compulsory deduction) | Principal |
| Behbood, Pensioners’ Benefit, Shuhada accounts | Exempt from collection | No | Many scholars still count them; see below |
| Prize bonds | Yes | No | Face value |
| Cryptocurrency | Yes (where held) | No | Market value in PKR |
“Exempt from deduction” means CDNS will not take zakat automatically. It does not settle the religious duty. If the money is yours and you are above the nisab, most scholars say you include it in your own calculation.
Zakat on Shares Listed on PSX
Shares you trade. For zakat on shares you buy to sell them for profit, they are trade goods. Pay 2.5% of their full market value on your zakat date, using the closing price.
Shares you keep for dividends. Scholars give two methods for zakat on shares held long term:
- Full value (simplest and most cautious): pay 2.5% of the market value of your holding.
- Zakatable assets method (used by AAOIFI and many contemporary scholars): pay 2.5% only on your share of the company’s zakatable assets, such as its cash, receivables and stock. You find these in the company’s annual report.
If you cannot work out the company figures, pay zakat on shares at their full value. Dividends you received and still hold count as cash. Shariah-compliant stocks (the KMI-30 index) are treated the same way.
Zakat on shares example: your CDC account holds shares worth Rs 6,00,000 on your zakat date.
- Full value method: zakat = Rs 15,000.
- Zakatable assets method: if about 30% of the companies’ assets are zakatable, zakat = 2.5% × Rs 1,80,000 = Rs 4,500.
Zakat on Mutual Funds
Treat units like zakat on shares: pay 2.5% on their value (NAV × units) on your zakat date. Islamic funds sometimes publish a zakat figure per unit; use it if they do.
Some asset management companies deduct zakat from Muslim unit holders under the Zakat and Ushr Ordinance unless you file a zakat exemption declaration (CZ-50) through your distributor. Check your fund’s offering document or account statement, and subtract anything already deducted.
Zakat on National Savings Certificates
According to CDNS:
- Defence Savings Certificates (DSC) and Special Savings Certificates (SSC): zakat is collected at source under the rules.
- Special Savings Account: zakat is collected at source when you withdraw the principal.
- Regular Income Certificates (RIC): exempt from compulsory deduction.
- Behbood Savings Certificates, Pensioners’ Benefit Account, Shuhada Family Welfare Account and Short Term Savings Certificates: exempt from zakat collection.
If zakat was deducted at source, count it as paid. For schemes where nothing is deducted, such as RIC, include the principal in your own calculation. Profit you have received and still hold counts as cash.
Zakat on Prize Bonds
Prize bonds are like cash you have lent to the government, so they are zakatable at face value. Rs 1,00,000 in prize bonds means Rs 2,500 zakat. A prize you win is added to your cash once you receive it.
Zakat on Cryptocurrency
Holding crypto is a debated area. Most scholars who allow it treat it as zakatable wealth: pay 2.5% of its market value in rupees on your zakat date. Coins you trade are clearly zakatable as trade goods.
Common Mistakes
- Using the purchase price for zakat on shares. Always use market value on your zakat date, even if shares fell.
- Assuming an exempt certificate needs no zakat. “Exempt from deduction” is not the same as “exempt from zakat”.
- Paying twice on DSC or SSC where CDNS already collected zakat.
- Forgetting dividends and profit sitting in your bank account.
Related guides: Read our guides on PSX indices (KSE-100, KSE-30, KMI-30), ETFs in Pakistan and REITs in Pakistan.
FAQ
Is zakat on shares due if I hold them long term?
Yes. You can pay 2.5% of the full market value, or only on your share of the company’s zakatable assets. If unsure, the full value is the safer option.
Is zakat deducted on National Savings certificates?
CDNS collects zakat at source on Defence and Special Savings Certificates. Regular Income, Behbood and Short Term certificates are exempt from collection, so include them in your own calculation if you are above the nisab.
Is zakat due on prize bonds?
Yes, on their face value, because they are like cash. A prize is counted once you receive it.
Is zakat on shares or mutual funds deducted automatically?
Some funds deduct zakat from Muslim unit holders unless a zakat exemption declaration is on file. Check your fund’s documents and subtract anything already deducted.
Is zakat due on crypto?
Most scholars who permit holding crypto say yes: 2.5% of its market value on your zakat date.
Related Guides
- Zakat Calculator Pakistan 2026
- Zakat nisab 2026 in Pakistan
- Zakat on bank accounts and savings
- How to buy shares in Pakistan online
- How to invest in mutual funds in Pakistan
- National Savings Certificates in Pakistan
- Prize bonds and premium prize bonds