The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, led by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, convened in Peshawar on Friday to determine the sighting of the Ramadan moon.
Maulana Azad announced later in a press conference that the Ramadan moon was not sighted anywhere in Pakistan, which means that the first roza in the country would be observed on Sunday.
Zonal committees across major cities, including Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, and Islamabad, also held meetings to assess moon sighting reports.
According to officials, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) utilized digital telescopes nationwide, linking their stations via video in Peshawar to aid in crescent observation. Representatives from the Met Department and scholars from various sects participated in the deliberations.
The Met Department reported heavy cloudy and windy conditions in several cities, including Islamabad, Lahore, and Quetta, reducing the likelihood of spotting the moon.
At the conclusion of the Lahore zonal committee meeting, Auqaf Director General Khalid Mahmood, who presided over the meeting, announced that the Ramadan moon could not be sighted in the city. The final decision would be announced by the central committee meeting in Peshawar, he added.
DG Mahmood presided over the meeting at the Auqaf House in Lahore.
The zonal committee in Karachi reviewed testimonies of moon sighting for Ramadan 1146 AH, and announced that none were received on Friday.
Qari Nazir Naeemi, a member of the Zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of Karachi, said there was no information regarding any credible testimony, though they were still waiting for evidences.
"If any testimony is received, we will immediately inform the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee," he declared while talking to the media.
The sunset time in Karachi was at 6:34pm, and the moon could be sighted for up to 29 minutes after sunset.
In Chaman and Quetta also, the local Ruet-e-Hilal Committees announced no evidence of moon sighting.
Experts explained that the moon, which was born on Friday at 5:45am, should be at least 19 hours old for visibility. The age of the moon at sunset will be less than 14 hours, experts. However, at sunset on February 28, its age in Karachi was only 12 hours, with an altitude of just 5 degrees, making its sighting difficult.
Moreover, the weather was reportedly clear in various areas of Balochistan, including Quetta, as per the Met Department, while the weather is partially cloudy in some areas of the province. "There are few chances of witnessing the Ramadan moon in Quetta today," the Met Department reported.
In Quetta and Jiwani, the moonset time ranged from 6:59pm to 7:07pm, with a 30-minute gap between sunset and moonset, which is below the required 40-minute threshold, making chances of visibility low. In other areas, the gap was reported to be 29 minutes.
Ramadan in Saudi Arabia
The moon of Ramadan has been sighted in Saudi Arabia, marking the beginning of the holy month. According to details, the first day of fasting will be observed tomorrow, Saturday, March 1.
Ramadan in other countries
According to foreign media reports, the crescent moon of Ramadan was not sighted in several countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore. As a result, the first fast of the holy month will be observed on Sunday in these regions.
Similarly, Australia and Brunei have also announced that the first fast will be on Sunday, following the absence of moon sighting reports.
Meanwhile, the Ramadan moon was not sighted in Lucknow, India, according to Indian media reports. Similarly, Sri Lanka also did not confirm the sighting of the crescent.
However, the Indonesian government officially announced the sighting of the moon, confirming that the first fast will be observed in the country tomorrow (Sunday). Indonesian media reported that the government’s announcement came half an hour later than the scheduled time.
