Ruet-e-Hilal committee meets today to decide Eid date in Pakistan

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is set to convene today (Thursday) across Pakistan to sight the Shawwal moon and determine the official date for Eid-ul-Fitr, as neighboring Afghanistan has already begun celebrations.

The meeting will be chaired by Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, who will oversee proceedings and collect testimonies of moon sightings from across the country. Zonal committees have also been activated in major cities including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Quetta.

According to officials, the final announcement regarding the sighting of the Shawwal crescent will be made only after verifying witness reports received from different parts of the country.

Meanwhile, Eid-ul-Fitr is already being celebrated in Afghanistan today, highlighting regional differences in moon sightings. In Gulf countries, the crescent was not sighted on Wednesday, and Eid will therefore be observed there on Friday.

Astronomical data provided by the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SPARC) indicates that the new moon was born early Thursday morning at 6:23 AM. By sunset, the moon’s age is expected to be approximately 12 hours and 41 minutes, with a visibility window of around 28 minutes after sunset in coastal areas.

However, experts note that under typical scientific criteria, a crescent moon generally requires a minimum age of about 19 hours and a visibility duration of 40 to 45 minutes to be sighted with the naked eye. Based on these factors, both SUPARCO and the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) have predicted that the Shawwal moon is unlikely to be visible in Pakistan today.

If the moon is not sighted, Eid-ul-Fitr in Pakistan is expected to fall on Saturday, March 21. Nevertheless, the final decision will rest with the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee following today’s deliberations and any confirmed sightings.