Sheikh Al-Hadith Professor Dr. Mufti Muhammad Zafar Iqbal Jalali, the chairman of the Shariah Board Pakistan, has set the minimum amounts for Sadaqah-e-Fitr and Fidya for the current year.
According to the announcement, the minimum Sadaqah-e-Fitr or Fitrana, an obligatory charitable donation during Ramadan, has been fixed at Rs300 per person. This amount is approximately equivalent to two kilograms of wheat flour. Additionally, the Fidya for skipping fasting due to health reasons has also been set at Rs300 per person.
Dr. Jalali emphasized the importance of philanthropists and affluent individuals contributing to Fitrana and Fidya according to their financial capacity. The values set for different food items are Rs600 for oats, Rs2,400 for dates, and Rs4,400 for raisins.
Furthermore, Dr. Jalali outlined the Fidya rates for fasting the entire month of Ramadan, which range from Rs9,000 for wheat flour to Rs132,000 for raisins. He clarified that Fidya for fasting is intended for individuals who are chronically ill or unable to fast with no prospect of recovery.
It was reiterated that travelers and those temporarily unable to fast are obligated to make up for missed fasts, as Fidya cannot be a substitute for abstaining from fasting.
Regarding Zakat, the minimum amount was fixed at Rs135,179 by the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Security for the year 2024. The ministry announced that Zakat will be applicable to savings accounts/profit and loss sharing (PLS) accounts with a balance of Rs135,179 or more. Consequently, customers meeting the criteria would be liable to pay 2.5% Zakat on their total account balance.
