ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s moon sighting committee will convene in the country’s northwestern city of Peshawar on Friday for the sighting the crescent of the holy month of Ramadan.
The holy month, which is observed with religious fervour and zeal, will see millions of Pakistanis along with billions of Muslims around the world observing a fast from dawn to sunset.
In Pakistan, central and zonal committees will finalise recommendations following which the official announcement regarding the beginning of Ramadan will be made.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has ruled out the possibility of Ramadan moon sighting on February 28.
According to the Met Office, the Ramadan moon is unlikely to be sighted on February 28. Thus, it predicted that the first of Ramadan would fall on March 2.
Reports suggested that the Ramadan moon will likely be sighted on February 28 in countries like the UAE and other Gulf nations.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Supreme Court has called on all Muslims in the country to sight the Ramadan moon tomorrow evening.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) the Supreme Court has asked that people who see the moon with the naked eye or through binoculars notify the nearest court to record the testimony of the sighting or contact the nearest centre to help them get to the nearest court.
Ramadan is set to begin in the United Kingdom on Friday evening and will go on until 30 March, the BBC reported.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla also helped to mark the upcoming Muslim holy month by helping to pack food donation boxes at a restaurant in Soho. Piccadilly Circus in London has been lit up as part of celebrations for this year’s Ramadan.
According to Indian media reports, Ramadan is expected to begin in India on March 1 (Saturday) or possibly March 2 (Sunday), depending upon the sighting of the crescent moon.
Meanwhile, the Muslim community in the US is expected to begin Ramadan on March 1. The Fiqh Council of North America forecasts the crescent moon to be visible on the evening of February 28, which would confirm March 1 as the start of Ramadan this year.
