Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Muhammad Abdul Khabeer Azad looks through a telescope at the new moon. Photo: AFP
The Ruet-e-Hilal Central Committee will meet today (Thursday) to observe the Shawwal Crescent, which marks the end of Ramazan.
The meeting will be held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad after Asr prayers on the roof of Ministry of Religious Affairs, Kohsar block.
Zonal committee meetings will also be held in major cities including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta and other parts of the country.
The committees will collect reports of moon sightings across Pakistan, which will then be verified before an official announcement is made.
Learn more: SUPARCO predicts Eidul Fitr likely to take place on March 21
The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission had earlier predicted that Eidul Fitr was likely to fall on March 21 as the chances of sighting the Shawwal Crescent on March 19 were considered very low.
“At the time of sunset on March 19, the age of the new moon would be approximately 12 hours and 41 minutes, with an estimated interval of 28 minutes between sunset and moonset along the coastal belt of Pakistan,” the SUPARCO statement said.
The commission said the prediction was based on scientific calculations and observations, but stressed that the relevant religious authority would make the official announcement.
“The final decision regarding the sighting of the Shawwal Crescent and the start of Eidul Fitr 1447 AH would be taken by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of Pakistan, which is the only competent authority to announce the start of the Islamic months based on credible testimonies and verified observations from across the country,” the statement said.
