The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will gather in Peshawar on Friday, February 28, to observe the crescent moon for Ramadan 1446 Hijri, as confirmed by the Ministry of Religious Affairs on Thursday.
The session, chaired by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, will be held after Asr prayers. At the same time, zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committees will conduct separate meetings in their respective areas and share their findings with the central committee.
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The Ministry of Religious Affairs will manage the meeting’s arrangements, ensuring participation from scholars representing different schools of thought. The committee will officially announce whether the moon has been sighted, determining the start of Ramadan.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the new moon is expected to form at 5:45 PM on February 28. Astronomical estimates suggest that the crescent may become visible on March 1, which would mark March 2 as the first day of fasting in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the International Astronomical Centre (IAC) in Abu Dhabi has predicted that Ramadan is likely to commence on March 1 in several Arab nations, as most Muslim countries will attempt to sight the moon on February 28.
Ramadan, a sacred month observed with devotion across Pakistan and the Muslim world, is characterized by fasting, increased acts of charity, community iftars, and public food distributions. Economic activity also sees a surge, with heightened shopping leading up to Eid ul Fitr.
The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will formally announce the moon sighting decision following its meeting on Friday evening.
