Ruet-e-Hilal Committee meets today for sighting of Shawwal moon

ISLAMABAD: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will be holding its meeting today (Tuesday) for the sighting of the Shawwal moon.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the committee’s Chairman Maulana Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad will preside over the meeting at the Kohsar Complex before sighting the moon to celebrate Eidul Fitr.

The Met Office has predicted that there were strong chances that the first day of Eidul Fitr would fall on April 10, as the Shawwal moon is expected to be sighted on April 9.

The PMD said the crescent would be born on April 8 at 11:21pm and it would be aged between 19 and 20 hours the next day around Maghrib prayer. The crescent could be spotted for over 50 minutes around sundown, it said.

In case the Shawwal moon is not sighted on Tuesday, Eid will fall on Thursday.

Meanwhile, meetings of other zonal and district committees will also be held simultaneously at their respective places on Tuesday evening after Asr prayers.

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Besides the members of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, the meeting would be attended by the officials of the meteorology department, Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) and the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The meeting would receive testimonies about the Shawwal moon sighting.

In light of the testimonies, Maulana Azad will announce whether the Shawwal moon is sighted or not in the country.

It is pertinent to mention here that the government has already announced holidays for Eid ul Fitr, with offices operating five working days in a week to observe three public holidays from April 10 to 12, while those working for six days will get four public holidays from April 10 to 13.