Ramazan to begin from Tuesday as moon not sighted in Pakistan

The holy month to commence in Saudi Arabia and other gulf countries from Monday

Ramazan will commence in Pakistan from Tuesday, April 7 as the new moon of the Islamic holy month was not sighted throughout the country on Sunday.

The decision was made at a meeting of Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, under the chairmanship of Mufti Munibur Rehman, convened in Karachi for the sighting of the Ramazan moon.

According to Express News, officials in the provincial capitals across the country also meet at the zonal and district sessions of the committee.

Meanwhile, the holy month will commence in Saudi Arabia and other gulf countries from Monday (tomorrow) as the new moon of the Ramazan crescent was not sighted in the region on Saturday, Arab News reported.

Earlier, Ruet-e-Hilal Research Council's Secretary-General Aijaz Khalid Mufti had said, "The new moon will not show up until it is 19 hours of age and the difference between sunset and moonrise is 40 minutes. Therefore, the moon’s distance from the earth should be at an angle of six degrees and of the moon to the sun should be 10 degrees.”



Today at sunset in all areas of Pakistan, the age of the moon would be less than 16 hours, he added.

The difference between sunset and moonrise all over Pakistan would not be more than 29 minutes. “Therefore, if any testimony on May 5 is received, it will be untruthful, anti-Shariah and scientifically incorrect,” he said.

The secretary-general further predicted that Pakistanis will be fasting for a total of 29 days and that Eidul Fitr shall be celebrated on June 5.