Ruet-e-Hilal committee to meet today for Ramazan moon sighting

Few chances that new moon will be visible on May 26, says met office

ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee for sighting the crescent of Ramazan will be held in Islamabad today.

The meeting is scheduled to be held at 6:30pm in the committee room of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony but according to the met office, there are few chances that Ramazan moon will be visible on Friday.

Chairman of the committee, Mufti Muneebur Rehman, will lead the meeting, according to Radio Pakistan. Further, meetings of zonal/district Ruet-e-Hilal committees will be held at their respective headquarters simultaneously.



The Ministry of Religious Affairs has requested people and other private religious committees to avoid making any announcement regarding Ramazan moon sighting  prior to the announcement made by the  chairman central  Ruet-e-Hilal Committee to avoid any kind  of confusion and panic among the people.  The ministry has also requested the electronic media to play a responsible role in this regard.

An official of the ministry said that the chairman of the central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee on the behalf of the government will officially announce when to start the new lunar month on the basis of observation results provided by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and evidences by members of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee and general public.

The PMD has predicted that the Ramazan moon is likely to be sighted on May 27 (Saturday) and the first day of the holy month will begin on May 28 (Sunday).

According to the ministry’s officials, like the previous year, Ramazan will also start on the same day nationwide this year, followed by Eidul Fitr on the same day across the country, in line with the central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announcement.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s top court has announced that Saturday, May 27 will be first day of the holy month in the kingdom.