Shawwal moon sighted in Pakistan; Eid-ul-Fitr to be celebrated tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s moon-sighting authorities confirmed the visibility of the Shawwal moon on Friday, announcing that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated across the country on Saturday.

The festival, marking the end of Ramadan, will also be observed on March 21 in several other countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Oman, and India.

Political leaders and officials have announced where they will offer Eid prayers: former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz will pray in Raiwind, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will observe Eid in Lahore. Other members of the Sharif family, including Hamza Sharif, Salman Sharif, and Atta Tarrar, will also be in Lahore.

Across Punjab, senior political figures will gather at various locations for Eid prayers: Rana Sanaullah in Faisalabad, Khawaja Asif in Sialkot, Punjab Governor at Badshahi Mosque, and Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan in Khaddiyan Khas. Chaudhry Shujaat, Pervez Elahi, Salik, and Shafaq Hussain will be in Gujrat, while Khawaja Saad Rafique, Mujtaba Shujaat, and Ali Pervez Malik will join celebrations in Lahore.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi will observe Eid in his ancestral area of Bara, Khyber District. Governor Faisal Karim Kundi will offer Eid prayers in Dera Ismail Khan, while Speaker Babar Saleem Swati will be in Mansehra. Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court, Justice S.M. Atiq Shah, will celebrate Eid in Charsadda.

Other provincial leaders will also participate in prayers and celebrations in various districts: PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar in Buner, former KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak in Nowshera, JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Dera Ismail Khan, opposition leader Dr. Ibadullah in Shangla, ANP provincial president Aimal Wali in Charsadda, and National Awami Party chief Aftab Sherpao in Charsadda.

Eid celebrations will also be underway in Saudi Arabia and several other countries today, marking the global observance of the festival.

Authorities advised the public to follow health and safety protocols while attending congregational prayers and celebrations.