Govt sets value of diyat paid as compensation for murder at over Rs19 million

The federal government has increased the value of diyat (blood money) to Rs19.35 million for the 2026-27 fiscal year, marking a 97 per cent increase from the previous year.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday, the amount has been fixed at Rs19,352,390 under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). Under Pakistani law, diyat is financial compensation paid by a person convicted of murder to the legal heirs of the victim.

The amount is calculated on the basis of the value of 30,630 grams of silver, as required under Section 323 of the PPC.

Last year, the government had set the diyat amount at Rs9,828,670. The latest increase is largely due to the sharp rise in silver prices. The value of diyat has risen significantly in recent years. It stood at Rs6,757,902 in FY2023-24, up from Rs4,318,524 in FY2022-23.

The law requires courts to determine diyat in line with Islamic principles, while taking into account the financial circumstances of the convicted person and the victim's heirs. However, the amount cannot be lower than the value of 30,630 grams of silver.