Shawwal moon not sighted, Pakistan to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Saturday

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced on Thursday evening that Eid-ul-Fitr will be observed across Pakistan on Saturday, March 21, after the Shawwal moon was not sighted anywhere in the country.

The announcement was made during a press conference held under the chairmanship of Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, who confirmed that no credible reports of moon sighting were received from any part of Pakistan.

“There is no evidence of the Shawwal moon sighting from across the country,” Maulana Azad stated, adding that Friday would mark the 30th and final day of Ramadan 2026.

A meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee had earlier been convened in Islamabad to see the crescent, while zonal and district committees simultaneously held sessions at their respective headquarters, including in Karachi and Lahore. However, no confirmed sightings were reported from any of these locations.

Astronomical data had already suggested a low probability of sighting the moon on March 19. According to Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), the new moon of Shawwal 1447 AH was born at 6:23 PST on March 19. At sunset, the moon’s age was approximately 12 hours and 41 minutes, with a visibility window of around 28 minutes—conditions deemed unfavourable for observation.

Based on these factors, experts had anticipated that Pakistan would complete 30 days of Ramadan, placing the first day of Shawwal on March 21.

Regionally, the moon was also not sighted in several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, where Eid-ul-Fitr will now be observed on Friday. In contrast, Afghanistan has already begun Eid celebrations.

Pakistan began observing the holy month of Ramadan on February 19 this year. As per the Islamic lunar calendar, months last either 29 or 30 days depending on the sighting of the crescent moon, causing Islamic dates to shift approximately 10 days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar.

Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and is celebrated by Muslims worldwide with prayers, charity, and festivities, symbolising gratitude, unity, and spiritual renewal.