ISLAMABAD (HRNW): The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of Pakistan has officially announced that the Shawwal crescent moon was not sighted in any part of the country on Thursday evening. Following a high-level meeting chaired by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, the committee confirmed that since no credible testimonies were received from across the provinces, the 1st of Shawwal will fall on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
This decision aligns Pakistan with several other regional and international neighbors, including Malaysia and Bangladesh, where official moon sighting committees also reported no visibility of the crescent. Consequently, all three nations will complete a 30-day fast for the month of Ramadan, with the religious festival of Eid-ul-Fitr being observed this weekend.
Public and private sector organizations in Pakistan have already prepared for the three-day public holiday starting tomorrow. While the Ministry of Science and Technology’s lunar calendar had previously suggested a low probability of sighting the moon on Thursday, the formal announcement from the religious authorities provides the final confirmation for millions of citizens preparing for congregational prayers and festivities.
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