Saudi govt hands over 66.5m riyal to Pakistan

Money to be distributed among Pakistani pilgrims who had to suffer because of poor residential arrangements.

The Saudi Hajj minister Fawadul Farsi handed over a cheque worth 66.5million riyal to Pakistani Religious Affairs Minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi on Wednesday.

The money is to be distributed among Pakistani pilgrims who had to suffer because of poor residential arrangements during Hajj, with each pilgrim to be given Rs5,500 in compensation. The money will be distributed once the religious minister returns to Pakistan.

In an earlier report published in The Express Tribune, the Saudi minister was quoted as saying that he wanted to pay the money as a token of love for Pakistani pilgrims. While Kazmi had said the Saudi government is not paying the money as compensation or a fine but for spreading goodwill among Pakistani people.