PESHAWAR: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will gather in Peshawar on February 18 to sight the crescent that marks the beginning of Ramadan 1447AH, with parallel meetings scheduled in the federal and provincial capitals.
Maulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabeer Azad will preside over the central session in Peshawar to determine whether the holy month will begin on February 19 or 20. Zonal committees are set to convene simultaneously in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Quetta, following a formal notification issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology have indicated that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are likely to commence Ramadan on the same day this year. Astronomical calculations suggest the new moon will be born on February 17, although it is not expected to be visible in Saudi Arabia, the United States, Africa or Europe on that date.
Scientific projections show that the crescent should be clearly visible on February 18 in Pakistan and several other countries. Cities including Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar and Makkah are expected to have favourable conditions for sighting, increasing the likelihood that Ramadan will begin in Pakistan on February 19.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department said the moon will reach conjunction at 5:01pm on February 17, with astronomical indicators pointing to a reasonable chance of visibility on February 18, corresponding to the 29th of Shaban 1447AH. In an advisory to the Research and Reference Wing of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the department noted that weather conditions across much of the country are forecast to be partly cloudy or clear on the evening of February 18, which may aid sighting efforts.
According to the department’s Climate Data Processing Centre, the crescent is expected to remain visible until 7:24pm in Sindh, 7:08pm in Punjab, 7:47pm in Balochistan, 7:13pm in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 6:58pm in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and 6:53pm in Gilgit Baltistan. Other areas may also observe the moon until local moonset times.
In keeping with tradition, the committee will meet on the 29th of Shaban to assess testimonies from across the country before formally announcing the start of Ramadan, with scholars representing various schools of thought in attendance.
During the month, millions in Pakistan, along with Muslims worldwide, will fast from dawn to sunset. The period is marked by heightened devotion, increased charitable giving and community food initiatives, including roadside stalls that provide meals to those returning home at sunset.
