Dr. Monzer Kahf, a prominent economist and counselor states: There is no reason to say it is not permissible unless it is bad for the recipients, the poor and needy. For instance, if your Zakah is due in Pakistan in rupees and you distribute instead in a village in Pakistan US Dollars, who is going to benefit from these Dollars, they may not even know what they are! But if you distribute them in a country that can use them, of course it is permissible.”