ISLAMABAD: Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced on Thursday that the Shawwal moon had not been sighted, confirming that Eidul Fitr will be observed on March 21. Speaking at a press conference following a meeting to verify the lunar crescent marking the end of Ramadan, Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad said the country would complete the 30th day of fasting on Friday. “There was no testimony received of sighting the moon from any part of Pakistan,” he said, adding that cloudy skies across much of the country had prevented visibility. Azad called for unity in Pakistan and other Muslim countries amid the ongoing crisis in the Gulf and offered prayers for the region’s people. He also condemned Israel’s actions, praying for relief from oppression and for Pakistan’s protection and stability. Committee members, along with representatives from the Pakistan Meteorological Department, the Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), and the Ministry of Science, attended the session to provide technical support for moon sighting. Zonal committees also met in major cities including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Quetta to collect local testimonies. Saudi Arabia had announced earlier that Eid would begin on March 20 after failing to sight the Shawwal crescent. SUPARCO had predicted that Eid in Pakistan was likely on March 21, citing low chances of crescent visibility on March 19. “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,” SUPARCO had said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026