ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will convene in Karachi on Sunday to sight the Zilhaj crescent moon, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony announced on Saturday.
The central committee’s moon-sighting meeting will take place at the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) in the port city. According to the ministry, if the moon is sighted tomorrow, Eid ul Adha will be celebrated across Pakistan on May 27; otherwise, the festival will fall on May 28.
SUPARCO predicts favorable conditions for moon sighting in Pakistan
The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has previously forecast that the new moon is likely to be sighted on May 17.
A spokesperson for Pakistan’s space agency explained that the age of the new moon at sunset on May 17 will be approximately 18 hours and 30 minutes, conditions generally considered suitable for visibility across several regions of the country.
The new moon is expected to be born at 1:01 am on the same day, providing a solid basis for the expected lunar progression.
According to SUPARCO, atmospheric and astronomical conditions appear favourable for the crescent to be sighted on the evening of May 17.
Coastal areas offer best visibility
The spokesperson added that in Pakistan’s coastal areas, there is likely to be a gap of around 60 minutes between sunset and moonset, which significantly improves the probability of the moon being visible. Based on these projections, the first day of Zil Hajj is expected to fall on Monday, May 18, while Eid ul Adha is likely to be observed on May 27, subject to final confirmation.
However, SUPARCO clarified that the official and final decision regarding the sighting of the Zil Hajj moon rests with Pakistan’s Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, which is responsible for the formal announcement of the Islamic lunar calendar in the country.
