ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has announced that the new moon of Ramadan 1447 AH will be born on February 17 at 5:01 PM (PST), and there is a reasonable possibility of sighting it on the evening of February 18.
In an advisory sent to the Research and Reference Wing of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the department stated that the moon will appear at the conjunction point at 5:01 PM on February 17. Astronomical calculations suggest a fair chance of visibility on February 18, which corresponds to the 29th of Shaban 1447 AH.
According to the PMD’s Climate Data Processing Centre (CDPC), weather conditions across most parts of the country are expected to be partly cloudy or clear on the evening of February 18, which may support moon-sighting activities.
The department also provided region-wise moon visibility timings (PST) for February 18: until 7:24 PM in Sindh, 7:08 PM in Punjab, 7:47 PM in Balochistan, 7:13 PM in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 6:58 PM in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and 6:53 PM in Gilgit-Baltistan.
It further noted that areas not included in the schedule may still observe the moon until moonset based on their local timings.
Following tradition, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meet on the 29th of Shaban, while zonal committees will convene in their respective regions to collect and review moon-sighting testimonies before announcing the start of the holy month.
Religious scholars from all schools of thought will participate in the central meeting to confirm the beginning of Ramadan.
The sacred month, observed with great devotion, will see millions of Pakistanis — along with billions of Muslims worldwide — fasting from dawn to sunset. As in previous years, Ramadan in Pakistan will also be marked by charity and public food distribution, with people setting up roadside stalls for those returning home at iftar time.
