Pakistani Hajj Operators Transfer Funds to Wrong Account, Hajj of 67,000 Pilgrims at Risk

A critical banking error has jeopardized Hajj 2025 plans for 67,000 Pakistani pilgrims after their payments worth 50 million Saudi Riyals were accidentally deposited into OPEC’s account instead of the official Saudi Hajj portal.

The Hajj Organizers Association of Pakistan (HOAP) disclosed the mistake during a parliamentary hearing, revealing the funds remained missing for over a month before recovery efforts began.

Private tour operators had transferred the money five days before the October 23 deadline, which they claim wasn’t formally communicated to them.

While payments for 77,000 private scheme pilgrims were completed by February 14, Saudi authorities couldn’t locate the misdirected funds in their system, creating bureaucratic complications.

The incident sparked outrage in Pakistan’s National Assembly Standing Committee on Religious Affairs, with Chairman Malik Amir Dogar calling it “the worst scandal in our Hajj history” and demanding immediate accountability. Opposition members proposed forming a special subcommittee to involve Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in resolving the crisis.

HOAP representatives accused Pakistan’s Religious Affairs Ministry of deliberately obstructing private operators while favoring government Hajj quotas.

Federal Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, while claiming unfamiliarity with the inquiry details, confirmed Pakistan hadn’t utilized its full 179,610-pilgrim quota. The government has now established a preventive committee under Musadik Malik’s leadership to avoid repeat incidents.

Support independent Islamic website.

Support our mission to spread Islamic knowledge. Your donation helps our volunteer writers and infrastructure. Contribute now.

One-Time ($2.99) Monthly ($1.99)