Over 67,000 Pakistani pilgrims may be unable to perform Hajj this year due to a major administrative mishap that saw 50 million Saudi riyals — equivalent to over Rs36 billion — being transferred to the wrong Saudi account, raising alarm bells in the National Assembly Standing Committee on Religious Affairs.

An emergency meeting was convened in Islamabad, chaired by Aamir Dogar, to probe the shocking revelations and ensure accountability. The committee was briefed that the Hajj Director General Abdul Wahab Soomro allegedly oversaw the transfer of funds from private tour operators (HGOs) to an incorrect account, which took nearly a month and a half to reverse.

"This is not just about money, it’s about the dreams and faith of 67,000 Pakistanis who may now be left behind,” Dogar stated. “Those responsible must be identified — whether in the ministry or among private operators.”

Funds transferred, deadline missed

The issue stemmed from a February 14 deadline imposed by the Saudi government, requiring 25% of the Hajj quota amount to be deposited for confirmation. Out of 179,610 allotted quotas, only 23,620 pilgrims under the private scheme were confirmed due to the delay.

Private tour operators claim they were not informed of the deadline by the ministry, learning about it via social media, and that their money was diverted without consent.

“We were not even allowed to collect Hajj applications on time. Our money — Rs36 billion — went to the wrong account due to negligence,” said a representative of HOPE, the association of private Hajj operators.

Space still available in Mina?

Interestingly, HOPE claims that space in Mina is still available, and with proper government intervention, some of the affected pilgrims can still be accommodated. A Saudi agreement, also signed by Pakistani representatives, allows for additional pilgrims — if they meet the standards, including a minimum 14,000 riyals in their accounts.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, while expressing regret over the situation, assured the committee that efforts are underway to recover the money and negotiate with Saudi authorities for an additional 10,000 quota.

“The money routed through the system will be refunded. We’ve secured an additional 10,000 slots already, and discussions are ongoing for more,” said the minister.

Accountability demanded, investigation pending

The blame game intensified in the committee, with some members pointing fingers at both the Ministry and HOPE, while others called out former officials, including the previous DG Hajj and Secretary.

Committee Chair Aamir Dogar emphasized the need for transparency and accountability, saying: “If Hajj cannot be performed, the money must be returned. We will assess if profits are being earned on pilgrims’ money.”

The Prime Minister’s inquiry committee has yet to release its report on the matter. Until then, the fate of thousands of pilgrims — most of whom have spent their life savings — hangs in the balance.

The Al-Raji Company controversy

Further controversy emerged over the awarding of contracts to Saudi-based Al-Raji Company, which reportedly got a contract for 88,000 pilgrims despite having the capacity for half that number. Questions are being raised over lack of competitive bidding and potential favoritism.

“This will open a Pandora’s box,” warned Dogar. “We need to ensure that transparency returns to the Hajj process.”