ISLAMABAD – A major financial blunder has cast a dark shadow over the Hajj 2025 pilgrimage for more than 67,000 intending Pakistani pilgrims, following the misrouting of over 50 million Saudi Riyals (approximately ₦17.2 billion) meant for the Saudi Ministry of Hajj. The funds, collected by private Hajj tour operators under Pakistan’s quota, were mistakenly transferred to the wrong account, raising fears of mass disqualification from this year’s pilgrimage.
According to credible reports, the money, which was supposed to be credited to the designated Saudi Hajj account, was instead sent to an account linked to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) through the office of the Director General (DG) Hajj. The error caused significant delays, as Saudi authorities could not trace the payment in their system, ultimately risking the eligibility of thousands of Pakistani pilgrims.
The issue came to public attention during a sitting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony. Members of the Hajj Organizers Association of Pakistan (HOAP) confirmed that they were not officially informed about the final payment deadline of October 23, learning about it only through social media. Despite the confusion, HOAP maintains that the funds were sent five days before the deadline, albeit to the wrong destination.
Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Dr. Atta Ur Rehman, during a Senate committee session, conceded that the situation is now beyond the government’s control. He cited Saudi Arabia’s new policy which only permits Hajj group organizers with a quota exceeding 2,000 pilgrims. This regulation has led to the forced merger of 904 small Hajj organizers into just 45 larger companies, compounding the crisis for private operators and pilgrims alike.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, expressed deep regret over the administrative lapse and confirmed that diplomatic efforts are being intensified to secure an additional 10,000 Hajj slots from the Saudi authorities. He also pledged that the Pakistani government is working round the clock to recover the misplaced funds and find a resolution before final processing begins.
The mishap has drawn widespread public outrage, especially from affected pilgrims who had spent years saving up for this religious obligation. Many of them now face the distressing possibility of missing Hajj due to bureaucratic errors and lapses in financial oversight.
Observers and civil society groups have called for an immediate high-level investigation into the incident. They argue that such negligence not only undermines the credibility of the Hajj system in Pakistan but also jeopardizes the spiritual aspirations of tens of thousands of Muslims whose only wish was to fulfil one of the five pillars of Islam.
With the Hajj season fast approaching, the fate of over 67,000 Pakistani pilgrims hangs in the balance. The onus is now on the Pakistani government to not only correct the error but also to implement sweeping reforms in the Hajj administration to prevent such incidents from recurring.
