The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee met in Peshawar at the Auqaf Department building under the chairmanship of Maulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad. Zonal and district committees in Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, and other cities also gathered to sight the crescent moon.
The committee received multiple moon sighting reports from different cities. After reviewing the evidence, the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee officially confirmed the moon sighting.
“The crescent moon of Ramazan Mubarak 1446 Hijri has been sighted in Pakistan, and the first fast will be observed tomorrow in Pakistan,” said Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad during a press conference.
Earlier, committee member Mufti Atiqullah reported that moon sighting testimonies were received from Upper Dir, six from District Mohmand, and confirmations from Landi Kotal and nearby areas. Islamabad sent three reports, and Peshawar also confirmed the crescent moon. In Lakki Marwat, the moon was seen clearly, with many citizens providing eyewitness testimonies from Lakki City and surrounding areas.
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In Bangladesh, the crescent moon was also sighted, confirming that the first day of the holy month will be Thursday, February 19. Earlier this month, Suparco had predicted that Ramazan was “likely to fall” on February 19. Meanwhile, countries like Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, the UAE, and Afghanistan began their fasting on Wednesday after spotting the moon on Tuesday night.
The announcement allows Muslims in Pakistan to prepare for fasting and prayers while following official guidance for the holy month.
The moon sighting confirms Pakistan will start fasting on Thursday. Reports from multiple districts make the announcement official. Public participation in sighting shows strong community involvement. The early confirmation helps mosques and families plan religious activities.
