Pakistan to Celebrate Eid ul Fitr on Saturday as Moon Not Sighted

News Desk 

Islamabad: Pakistan will celebrate Eid ul Fitr on Saturday (March 21) after the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced that no credible evidence of the Shawwal crescent moon sighting was received from any part of the country.

Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad made the announcement during a press conference in Islamabad, confirming the completion of 30 days of Ramadan.

According to officials, while the zonal committee in Peshawar received six testimonies — including five via telephone and one from an eyewitness — all reports were forwarded to the central committee for verification. After thorough scrutiny based on strict Shariah criteria, the testimonies were not deemed sufficient to confirm moon sighting.

Meteorological experts had earlier indicated that the chances of sighting the crescent were extremely low. Although the moon’s position was calculated at 271.36 degrees in Islamabad, its age was only 12 hours and 23 minutes — significantly below the minimum visibility threshold of around 19 hours and 20 minutes.

The sun set in the federal capital at 6:22pm, while the expected time for moon visibility was 6:51pm, further reducing the likelihood of sighting.

Meanwhile, several countries in the region, including India and Indonesia, also reported no confirmed sightings of the Shawwal moon and will observe Eid on Saturday. However, in Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, Eid will be celebrated on Friday, while Afghanistan has already observed the festival.

Eid ul Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. The Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle, causing the dates of Ramadan and Eid to shift each year.

This year, Ramadan began in Pakistan on February 19, with the country completing 30 days of fasting. Muslims are also encouraged to engage in charity and support the underprivileged during the holy month.

Globally, Ramadan festivities have been overshadowed by rising tensions in the Middle East, where ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has heightened regional instability.