KARACHI: The Zil Hajj moon has been sighted and Eid ul Adha will fall on May 27 in Pakistan, Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced.
Chairman of Pakistan’s Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, Maulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad, made the announcement after a meeting of the committee held at the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) in Karachi.
Addressing a press conference, Ruet chairman stated that credible testimonies of moon sighting have been received from several parts of the country.
“It was decided with consensus that first Zilhaj 1447 AH will be on Monday, May 18, and Eid ul Adha will be observed on Wednesday, May 27”, he said.
The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) previously forecast that the new moon was likely to be sighted on May 17.
A spokesperson for the country’s space agency said that the new moon was born on May 17 at 1:01am, adding that its age at sunset on the same day was approximately 18 hours and 30 minutes, which is generally considered suitable for visibility.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Turkiye and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also announced the sighting of Zil Hajj moon, and Eid ul Adha will be celebrated in these countries on May 27.
Preparations for Eid are already underway, with temporary cattle markets set up in cities and towns across Pakistan to facilitate the purchase of sacrificial animals.
The faithful will offer sacrifices over the three days of Eid, in keeping with Islamic tradition.
During this period, government offices, banks, and most private institutions will remain closed.
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