Hope Emerges for 67,000 Pakistani Pilgrims Amid Hajj Payment Deadline Issues

Committee Holds Officials Accountable for Hajj Fund Mishandling

By DTD- On Apr 23, 2025

ISLAMABAD – Around 67,000 intending Pakistani pilgrims, facing the risk of missing this year’s Hajj pilgrimage and losing their money due to a missed deadline, received a glimmer of hope on Wednesday. A National Assembly committee was informed that money sent via official channels could be refunded, and efforts are ongoing to ensure these pilgrims can still make the journey to Saudi Arabia.

The issue arose when private Hajj organizers failed to meet a crucial February 14 deadline set by Saudi authorities for submitting pilgrim details. It was revealed that the funds collected from intending pilgrims were transferred to the wrong account, leading to delays and missed deadlines for many.

Dr. Atta ur Rehman, Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, briefed the committee, explaining that under new Saudi regulations, Hajj Group Organizers (HGOs) with quotas less than 2,000 pilgrims were no longer allowed to operate independently. As a result, 904 HGOs were merged into 45 larger clusters. He confirmed that while 13,620 pilgrims who met the deadline were accepted, only an additional 10,000 pilgrims were allowed after the Saudi portal was reopened for 48 hours.

Funds were transferred to Saudi companies through the Directorate General (DG) Hajj in compliance with Saudi regulations. However, due to a restriction on sending over $300,000 at once, several HGOs failed to complete the payment process before the deadline. The DG Hajj was able to transfer the funds after efforts led by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, but the missed deadline caused further complications.

The committee was also told that a significant sum, 50 million riyals, was initially sent to the wrong OPEC account. The funds took 28 days to be retrieved, creating further delays in submitting the necessary data to the Saudi authorities. However, there were conflicting accounts about who was responsible for the transfer error.

Committee members, including Shagufta Jumani, held senior officials accountable for the mishandling of funds, with Chairman Malik Amir Dogar demanding an explanation from the DG Hajj regarding the incorrect transfer. DG Hajj Makkah Abdul Wahab, who attended the meeting online, admitted to the mistake, explaining that initial instructions for fund transfers had been changed midway.

While the Saudi authorities have confirmed there are no remaining quotas for the 67,000 affected pilgrims, the ministry and Hajj operators remain hopeful that a deadline extension might be granted. However, the committee was told that allocations for the Hajj pilgrimage are based on a first-come-first-serve basis, with no additional spots currently available for Pakistani pilgrims.

The Hajj Organizers Association of Pakistan (HOAP) expressed concern that 700 million riyals (approximately PKR 36 billion) are still held in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, DG Hajj confirmed that almost 1 billion riyals had been received, and that funds for digital wallets could be refunded, but funds already spent on accommodations and transport may not be recoverable.

The committee has requested a detailed breakdown of the funds held in both government and private accounts to determine the next steps for the affected pilgrims.