ISLAMABAD: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meet in Peshawar on Wednesday, February 18, to sight the crescent moon and decide the start of Ramadan 1447 Hijri.
The session will be led by Maulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabeer Azad, with members of both the central and zonal committees attending. An official announcement regarding the commencement of the holy month will follow the meeting.
Director General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Hafiz Abdul Qadoos, Shaukatullah Khan from the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), Dr Hassan Ali Baig from the Pakistan Meteorological Department, and Zain-ul-Abideen from the Ministry of Science and Technology are also expected to participate.
Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad urged citizens to make arrangements for moon sighting and expressed hope that the first fast of Ramadan would be observed throughout the country on the same day.
Earlier, SUPARCO had announced that the new moon of Ramadan 1447 AH is expected to be born on February 17 at 5:01pm Pakistan Standard Time, raising the likelihood of sighting the crescent on the following evening.
According to the agency’s astronomical calculations, by sunset on February 18, the moon will be about 25 hours and 48 minutes old, a period considered very favourable for visibility.
SUPARCO added that along Pakistan’s coastal areas, the time between sunset and moonset is expected to be around 59 minutes, giving sufficient opportunity to sight the moon.
“Based on key astronomical parameters, the chances of sighting the new moon with the naked eye on the evening of February 18 are very high,” the statement said. “Consequently, the first day of Ramadan is likely to fall on February 19, 2026.”
However, SUPARCO stressed that the official start of the holy month will be determined by the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, the authorised body for moon sighting in the country, after verifying testimonies from across Pakistan.
The beginning of Ramadan marks a spiritually important period for Muslims, observed with fasting from dawn to sunset, increased prayers, and acts of charity.