Pakistan increases diyat amount to over Rs19 Million
The Ministry of Finance issued the notification, confirming that the revised Pakistan diyat amount is now almost double the amount announced last year.
The increase is required under Pakistan’s legal framework because diyat is linked directly to the market value of silver.
What is blood money in Pakistan?
Under Pakistani law, blood money Pakistan, commonly known as diyat, is financial compensation that may be paid by a convicted offender to the legal heirs of a murder victim.
The concept is based on Islamic law and is incorporated into the Pakistan Penal Code. Courts may order the payment of diyat in eligible cases, but the amount cannot be lower than the officially notified minimum set by the federal government.
The revised blood money Pakistan rate now stands at Rs19,352,390, replacing the previous minimum of Rs9,828,670.
Why has the Pakistan diyat amount increased?
The main reason behind the increase is the sharp rise in silver prices.
According to Section 323 of the Pakistan Penal Code, the minimum Pakistan diyat amount must equal the value of 30,630 grams of silver. Since silver prices have risen significantly over the past year, the government was legally required to revise the amount.
The Ministry of Finance reviews silver prices every year before announcing the updated diyat value for the new fiscal year.
Officials say the latest notification is based entirely on the current market value of silver rather than any change in government policy.
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Nearly 97% increase from last year
The newly announced Pakistan diyat amount represents an increase of around 97% compared with last year.
For the previous fiscal year, the minimum diyat was fixed at Rs9,828,670. Under the latest notification, that amount has increased to Rs19,352,390.
This is one of the largest annual increases in recent years.
A similar revision was made during the 2023–24 fiscal year, when the government raised the minimum diyat from Rs4,318,524 to Rs6,757,902 because of rising silver prices.
How courts determine blood money Pakistan
Although the government announces the minimum value every year, courts decide whether diyat applies in individual cases.
Judges consider the circumstances of each case, Islamic legal principles, and the financial position of both the convicted person and the victim’s legal heirs.
However, even if the court considers these factors, the compensation cannot be lower than the officially notified blood money Pakistan amount.
This ensures that all eligible cases meet the minimum legal requirement announced by the government.
Proposal to replace silver with gold
The method used to calculate diyat has also become the subject of debate.
Last year, a proposal was submitted in the Senate suggesting that the current silver-based formula should be replaced with 2,000 grams of gold or one-quarter of the convicted person's assets.
Supporters argued that silver no longer reflects the actual value of compensation because its market price is much lower than gold.
However, the proposal has not yet been approved, meaning the diyat 2026 Pakistan calculation continues to rely on the value of silver.
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What happens next?
The revised diyat 2026 Pakistan notification takes effect immediately and will apply throughout the current fiscal year.
Families involved in applicable legal cases will now receive compensation based on the newly notified minimum amount wherever diyat is awarded by the courts.
Legal experts believe future revisions will continue to depend largely on changes in international silver prices unless Parliament approves a new formula.
