Ramazan likely to begin from April 3: Met office

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Wednesday said that the Ramazan moon was likely to be sighted on Saturday, April 2 and the holy month would commence from Sunday, April 3.

It said chances of sighting the Ramazan moon were bright as clear skies were expected in most parts of the country on April 2 while cloudy weather can be witnessed in some areas.

The holy month of Ramazan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and signifies a month devoted to worship, fasting and reflection in the Islamic faith.

The month commemorates the first revelation to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and the annual month-long fast forms one of the five pillars of Islam.

Fasting from sunrise to sunset during the holy month is obligatory on all Muslims.

Read more: ECC okays Rs8.2b Ramazan relief package

On Tuesday, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet approved in principle a subsidy of Rs8.2 billion for this year’s Ramazan relief package.

According to a statement issued by the finance ministry, the relief package, presented by the national food security and research ministry, has been approved for the whole population of the country rather than the only 20 million households registered with the Ehsaas Rashan Riyat Programme with directions to frame procedural mechanism for limiting the interventions by each family.

According to details, the government will provide a subsidy of Rs2.534 billion on flour, Rs750 million on sugar, Rs4.050 billion subsidy on ghee, Rs300 million subsidy on oil, Rs30 million on dal channa, Rs10 million on washed dal moong, Rs30 million on white gram, Rs50 million on baisen, Rs20 million on dates, Rs25 million on rice basmati and Rs10 million on rice sella.