A meeting of Pakistan’s Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is being held today to sight the Shawwal moon, however new predictions have been released by the SUPARCO on the visibility of the crescent.
Today marks the 29th day of Ramadan in Pakistan, and meetings of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee and zonal committees will be held this evening to sight the Shawwal moon.
In this regard, another prediction has been issued by SUPARCO. Divisional Head of Astrophysics, Ghulam Mustafa Laghari, stated that the new moon was born on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 6:23am.
He further explained that in the coastal areas of Pakistan the time lag between sunrise and sunset is expected to be around 28 minutes.
However, experts emphasise that for a crescent to be visible, moon should typically be at least 19 hours old and has to be visible for 40 to 45 minutes.
Based on these scientific parameters, the odds of seeing the Shawwal moon in Pakistan today bearing in mind the scientific parameters are extremely low
As a result of this, it is widely believed that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated all throughout Pakistan on Saturday, March 21, 2026, after the conclusion of 30 days of Ramzan.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries also have declared that the moon of Shawwal was not sighted there today.
Saudi Supreme Court confirmed the completion of 30 days of the month of Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Friday, March 20, 2026.
The central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee’s main meeting in Pakistan is expected to be held after Asr prayers.
Also read: Ruet-e-Hilal Committee to meet tomorrow for Shawal moon sighting
