UAE likely to join Pakistan in Eid celebrations

While astronomers and meteorologists expect Pakistan to have new moon after 29 roza, UAE might have to wait until 30 roza

WEB DESK: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of Pakistan is set to convene tomorrow, at the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony office in Islamabad.

Chaired by Maulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabeer Azad, the meeting aims to decide on the sighting of the new Islamic month’s moon, marking the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Shawwal with Eidul Fitr.

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The committee members will be joined by representatives of the Zonal Ruet-e-Hilal committees, Ministry of Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony, Department of SUPARCO, Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), and the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Similar meetings will take place across the country in Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, and Peshawar, where zonal committees will convene to determine the Shawwal moon sighting in their respective regions.

The sighting testimonies will be deliberated upon during the meeting, following which the Chairman of the central committee will make the official announcement regarding the Shawwal moon sighting and Eid, consequently deciding the date of Eidul Fitr.

While the Shawwal moon is expected to be sighted in United Arab Emirates (UAE) including Saudi Arabia today, some meteorologists and astronomers suggest otherwise. Abdullah Al-Khudiri, a Saudi astronomer and member of the Sighting of the Crescent Committee, argues that astronomical calculations indicate the moon will not be visible until Tuesday, April 9, aligning with the 30^th day of Ramadan.

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Al-Khudiri points out that today, the moon will set 12 minutes before the sun, making sighting improbable. Therefore, if the Shawwal moon remains unseen in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries today, Eidul Fitr will likely be observed on Wednesday.

However, PMD provides a glimmer of hope, stating that the Shawwal moon will be visible for approximately fifty minutes on Tuesday in Pakistan. Should the moon not be sighted today in the Gulf countries but appears in Pakistan tomorrow, Eidul Fitr will be celebrated on Wednesday, aligning with the Gulf countries.