The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is scheduled to meet this evening in Islamabad to determine the sighting of the Shawwal moon, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Chairman Maulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad will preside over the session at the Ministry of Religious Affairs in the Kohsar Block of the Pak Secretariat. Simultaneously, zonal and district committees are set to gather at their respective provincial and regional headquarters to collect testimonies from across the country.
While the committee relies on physical sightings and credible testimonies, scientific forecasts from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) suggest that the crescent is unlikely to be visible today, March 19. According to astronomical data, the new moon was born at 06:23 PST this morning. However, by sunset, its age will be approximately 12 hours and 41 minutes, which falls below the threshold typically required for a naked-eye sighting. Furthermore, the visibility window is expected to be limited to roughly 28 minutes along the coastal belt.
The potential for a late announcement has already drawn public attention, with a petition recently filed in the Islamabad High Court seeking more timely declarations to manage the “Chand Raat” rush and administrative challenges. Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar noted that while the concerns are valid, a formal announcement cannot be made until provincial testimonies are fully verified. In neighboring Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where the moon was not sighted on Wednesday, authorities have already officially declared that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Friday, March 20.
If the moon is not sighted in Pakistan tonight, Ramadan will complete a 30-day cycle, and Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated across the country on Saturday, March 21. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has encouraged citizens to report any sightings to their local committees, emphasizing that the final and official decision rests solely with the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
