More than 67,000 Pakistani pilgrims could face delays in their trip to the Hajj after millions of Saudi Riyals intended for their expenses were mistakenly sent to the poor bank.
According to Hajj Organizers Association of Pakistan (HOAP), around 50 million Saudi Riyals were accidentally transferred to an OPEC fund account instead of the official story of the Saudi ministry of Hajj and OMRA. The error delayed the payment process of more than a month.
Consequently, the operators of the Hajj soldier missed the payment deadlines set by the Saudi authorities, ignoring that the funds were poorly directed. Their reservations and pilgrimage plans were seriously disturbed.
The situation has provoked a general concern among the families of pilgrims, many of whom fear now that their loved ones can not perform the Hajj this year.
In response, the Pakistani authorities have formed a special subcommittee to investigate the error, trace funds and prevent similar incidents in the future. The committee will also coordinate with Saudi officials to resolve the problem quickly.
“This payment error has highlighted the urgent need for better coordination and better communication between banks, Hajj’s private operators and official agencies,” said HOAP representatives.
With a limited time before the Hajj, efforts are underway to rectify the error and guarantee the travel arrangements for thousands of pilgrims of hope.
