Islamabad: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is scheduled to hold a meeting in Peshawar on the evening of February 28 (Friday) to sight the Ramadan moon. If the crescent is sighted, the holy month will commence on March 1 (Saturday).
The committee’s chairman, Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad, will preside over the meeting, which will begin after the Asr prayer.
Meanwhile, according to a notification from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, various zonal committees will also convene in their respective areas to receive and evaluate moon sighting reports.
Clerics from all schools of thought will attend the central meeting to confirm the beginning of the ninth Islamic month.
The sacred month, observed with devotion and enthusiasm, will see millions of Pakistanis and billions of Muslims worldwide fasting from dawn to dusk.
Fasting hours will range from 12 to 17 hours, depending on different geographical locations around the globe.
Earlier this week, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) reported that the first fast in Pakistan is likely to be observed on March 2.
This is because the meteorological department predicted that the new moon is expected to be born on the evening of February 28 at 5:45 PM, increasing the chances of crescent sighting on March 1.
Additionally, an astronomy center in Abu Dhabi, UAE, stated that Ramadan is expected to begin on March 1.
According to the International Astronomical Centre (IAC), most Muslim countries will attempt to observe the new crescent moon on February 28, and some Arab nations may sight the moon on the same day.
Like many other countries, Pakistan witnesses an increase in charity and public food distribution during Ramadan, with roadside stalls set up for those returning home in the evening.
The month also generally sees a rise in business activities due to religious festivities and shopping trends in preparation for Eid ul Fitr.
