Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has dismissed media reports claiming that millions of Saudi Riyals meant for Pakistani pilgrims were mistakenly sent to the wrong bank account.
An official from the ministry clarified on Tuesday that the Kingdom’s electronic Hajj system operates with “the highest standards of transparency and accuracy,” and the claims were based on a misunderstanding of the process.
Earlier reports suggested that the funds had been mistakenly transferred to an account linked to OPEC instead of the Saudi ministry, raising concerns over delays in this year’s pilgrimage.
Saudi authorities confirmed that all arrangements for Hajj 2024 were finalised well in advance. While Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs met all requirements on time, several private Hajj operators failed to complete necessary contracts, leading to unused slots.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has set up a committee to investigate why the full Hajj quota of 179,210 was not utilized.
The Saudi ministry stressed it is working closely with Pakistani officials to complete the remaining arrangements. On Tuesday, Pakistan’s Hajj flight operations began with 442 pilgrims flying from Islamabad to Madinah.
Source: propakistan
