Private Hajj organizers reveal they have Rs200 billion stuck in Saudi Arabia
Members of the Hajj & Umrah Organisers Association Pakistan have made a startling revelation in the ongoing Hajj controversy — potentially involving around 67,000 intending pilgrims who have not been issued Saudi visas and risk not only missing the Hajj but also losing money.
During a press conference in Peshawar, Kamran Zaib, a representative of the organisers, disclosed that Hajj organizers had transferred over 2.5 billion Saudi Riyal (SAR) to Saudi Arabia.
Earlier, it was reported that SAR480 million (PKR36 billion) collected from intending pilgrims had been transferred to Saudi Arabia and paid for various service including hotels.
However, Kamran Zaib revealed that the amount stood at SAR2.67 billion (nearly PKRs200 billion) and included money from both intending pilgrims and the organizers. Some of the organizers sent money to Saudi Arabia believing they would collect it from the pilgrims later, he said.
Kamran Zaib also said money collected from overseas Pakistanis, who formed 30 percent of the nearly 89,000 pilgrims, also included in the amount.
Kamran Zaib said Rs220 million had been paid in advance tax to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and another Rs1.58 billion had been transferred to the Ministry of Religious Affairs. He stressed that despite meeting all official requirements, the government has failed to provide any clear process for the return of collected funds.
Funds accepted beyond deadline, questions raised
Zaib further stated that even after the February 14 deadline, payments continued to be accepted. “If the deadline had passed, why were funds still being collected?” he questioned.
The amount include money from intending pilgrim, including overseas Pakistanis
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