More than 67,000 Pakistani pilgrims could face delays on their Hajj trip after millions of Saudi riyals destined for their expenses were sent by error to the wrong bank account.
According to the Association of Hajj Organizers of Pakistan (HOAP), approximately 50 million Saudi Riíes were accidentally transferred to an OPEC fund account instead of the official account of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia. The error has delayed the payment process in more than a month.
As a result, Hajj’s private operators lost payment deadlines established by the Saudi authorities, without knowing that the funds were poorly directed. His reservations and pilgrimage plans have been severely interrupted.
The situation has caused a generalized concern among the families of the pilgrims, many of whom fear that their loved ones cannot perform the Hajj this year.
In response, the Pakistani authorities have formed a special subcommittee to investigate the error, track the funds and avoid similar incidents in the future. The Committee will also coordinate with Saudi officials to solve the problem quickly.
“This payment error has highlighted the urgent need for better coordination and communication between banks, private operators of Hajj and official agencies,” said Hoap’s representatives.
With limited time before the Hajj, efforts are being made to rectify the error and ensure travel arrangements for thousands of hopeful pilgrims.
