More than 67,000 Pakistani pilgrims could face delays in their Hajj journey after millions of Saudi Riyals calculated for their expenses were mistakenly sent to the wrong bank account.

According to Hajj Organizer Association of Pakistan (HOAP), approx. 50 million Saudi Riyals accidentally transferred to an OPEC fund account instead of the official account of Saudi -Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. The error has delayed the payment process by more than a month.

As a result, the private Hajj operators missed the payment deadlines established by Saudi authorities unaware that the funds were incorrectly directed. Their bookings and pilgrimage have been seriously disturbed.

The situation has created a broad concern among families of pilgrims, many of whom now fear that their loved ones may not be able to perform Hajj this year.

In response, Pakistani authorities have formed a special subcommittee to investigate the error, trace the funds and prevent similar events in the future. The committee will also coordinate with Saudi officials to resolve the issue quickly.

“This payment error has highlighted the urgent need for better coordination and communication between banks, private Hajj operators and official agencies,” Hoap representatives said.

With limited time left before Hajj, efforts are underway to correct the error and secure the travel arrangements for thousands of hopeful pilgrims.