Eid Mubarak: Shawaal moon sighted in Pakistan

Pakistan will celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr tomorrow (Monday) after the Shawwal 1446 moon for Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 was sighted in various parts of the country, including Lahore, Islamabad, and Faisalabad.

The announcement was made by Chairman of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, during a press conference in Islamabad on Sunday.

Addressing the media, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad confirmed that credible moon sighting testimonies were received from multiple locations nationwide. 

"The Shawwal moon has been sighted, and Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated across the country tomorrow," he stated.

The moon sighting meeting, held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Maulana Azad, included officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Meteorological Department, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), who provided technical assistance.

Reports indicated that the sky remained clear in Islamabad and its surrounding areas, facilitating easy visibility of the moon. 

According to reports, the moon was first spotted in Lahore shortly after the Maghrib Azaan on Sunday. 

Earlier, the Meteorological Department had also predicted that clear skies in most parts of the country, including Karachi, would increase the chances of moon sighting.

According to SUPARCO, the new moon of Shawwal was formed yesterday, March 29 at 3:58 PM (Pakistan time). 

By sunset on March 30, the moon’s age was approximately 27 hours, making it visible throughout in Pakistan.

Simultaneously, zonal moon sighting committee meetings were conducted in major cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Quetta to verify testimonies.

With the official confirmation of the Shawwal moon sighting, nationwide preparations for Eid-ul-Fitr are in full swing, as families and communities gear up to celebrate the joyous occasion tomorrow.

The government had already announced a three and four-day holiday for offices observing five and six working days a week, respectively.

It may be noted that both Saudi Arabia and the UAE declared the sighting of the crescent moon on March 29, marking the first day of Shawwal and the official start of Eid celebrations. 

Similarly, other Middle Eastern countries like Kuwait, Qatar, and Iran have also announced the celebration of Eid on Sunday. 

However, in several other countries, the Shawwal moon was not sighted on the evening of March 29, leading to a declaration that Eid ul Fitr would be observed on Monday, March 31, 2025.

These countries include Oman, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Australia. 

For example, the National Moon Sighting Committee of Bangladesh confirmed that the crescent moon was not visible, marking Sunday, March 30, as the final day of Ramadan.