The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee has begun its meeting in Karachi to determine the sighting of the Zil Hajj moon, which will decide the date of Eid ul Adha in Pakistan.
Moon Sighting Meeting Underway in Karachi
The meeting is being held at the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) headquarters in Karachi under the chairmanship of Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad.
At the same time, zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committee meetings are also taking place in different cities across the country to collect moon sighting testimonies and observations.
Possible Dates for Eid ul Adha
If the Zil Hajj crescent is sighted today, Eid ul Adha in Pakistan will be observed on May 27. However, if the moon is not sighted, the festival will fall on May 28.
The final announcement will be made officially by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee after reviewing evidence received from across the country.
Suparco Predicts Strong Chances of Moon Visibility
According to Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco), there is a strong likelihood that the moon will be visible on May 17.
A spokesperson for the national space agency said the moon’s age at sunset would be approximately 18 hours and 30 minutes, which is generally considered suitable for visibility under normal weather conditions.
The spokesperson further stated that the new moon was born at 1:01am on Sunday, creating favorable astronomical conditions for crescent visibility.
Weather Conditions Also Favorable
Officials noted that atmospheric conditions in several regions, particularly coastal areas, are expected to support moon sighting efforts. In some coastal locations, there is likely to be around a one-hour gap between sunset and moonset, increasing the possibility of visibility.
Based on these calculations, Suparco estimates that the first day of Zil Hajj will likely fall on Monday, May 18, subject to the official announcement by the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
Official Decision Still With Ruet-e-Hilal Committee
Despite scientific forecasts, authorities reiterated that the final and official decision regarding moon sighting rests solely with the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, which is responsible for announcing the Islamic lunar calendar in Pakistan.
