Ramadan moon not sighted in Pakistan, first day of fasting on March 2

ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced on Friday that the crescent for the holy month of Ramadan was not sighted in Pakistan.

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, Pakistan’s central moon-sighting body, met under the chairmanship of Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad in Peshawar.

Zonal moon-sighting committees also held meetings at their respective locations.

After gathering findings and testimonies, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced that the moon had not been sighted in any part of Pakistan.

The sighting of the new moon is now expected on March 1, and the first day of the holy month will start on March 2.

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset, which is one of the five pillars of Islam.

The appearance of the new moon signals the beginning of Ramadan, followed by Eidul-Fitr, a Muslim festival and celebration.

Pakistan’s national space agency, SUPARCO, had earlier forecast that the Ramadan moon would be invisible to the naked eye on February 28, and the country was likely to mark the beginning of the holy month from March 2.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has announced that all banks, development finance institutions (DFIs), and microfinance banks (MFBs) will remain closed for public dealings on the first working day of Ramazan 1446 AH for Zakat deduction.

The new regulations state that Zakat will be deducted from accounts with a balance of Rs179,689 or more on the first day of Ramadan, which falls on March 1 or 2, 2025.

However, bank employees will be required to report to work as usual and carry out official duties, except for transactions involving the public.