Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairperson Maulana Muhammad Abdul Khabeer Azad looks through telescope for the new moon. Photo: AFP
The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meet today (Thursday) to observe the Shawwal crescent, which marks the end of Ramazan.
The meeting will be held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad after Asr prayers on the rooftop of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Kohsar Block.
Zonal committee meetings will also take place in major cities, including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta, as well as other parts of the country.
The committees will collect testimonies of moon sightings from across Pakistan, which will then be verified before an official announcement is made.
Read More: SUPARCO predicts Eidul Fitr likely on March 21
The Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission had already predicted that Eidul Fitr was likely to fall on March 21, as the chances of sighting the Shawwal crescent on March 19 were considered very low.
“At the time of sunset on March 19, the age of the new moon would be approximately 12 hours and 41 minutes, with an estimated 28-minute interval between sunset and moonset along Pakistan’s coastal belt,” the statement from SUPARCO had said.
The commission had said the prediction was based on scientific calculations and observations, but had emphasised that the relevant religious authority would make the official announcement.
“The final decision regarding the sighting of the Shawwal crescent and the commencement of Eidul Fitr 1447 AH would be made by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of Pakistan, which is the sole competent authority to announce the beginning of Islamic months on credible witness testimonies and verified observations from across the country,” the statement said.
