Pakistan’s Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Declares First Fast of Ramadan on March 2
Islamabad, The Gulf Observer: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of Pakistan has announced that the moon for the holy month of Ramadan 1446 Hijri was not sighted anywhere in the country. As a result, the first fast (roza) will be observed on Sunday, March 2, 2025.
The committee convened in Peshawar on Friday under the leadership of Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad. After the meeting, a press conference was held to confirm that the crescent moon was not visible, as reported by local media.
Zonal committees across Pakistan, including those in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Quetta, also held moon sighting sessions with representatives from the Meteorological Department and the Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) in attendance. However, no credible reports of moon sightings were received from any of these locations.
The Meteorological Department (PMD) had earlier forecast partly cloudy conditions across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, including Peshawar, which were expected to hinder moon visibility. “Due to cloudy weather, the chance of sighting the Ramadan moon is low,” the PMD said in its forecast.
Additionally, the department noted that at sunset, the moon’s age would be around 12 hours, with a moon-sun angular separation of approximately five degrees, further reducing visibility.
Based on astronomical calculations, SUPARCO had earlier predicted that Ramadan would likely begin after Saturday evening, confirming the committee’s decision.
With the moon sighting confirmed as unsuccessful, Pakistan will observe the first day of fasting on March 2, as the country prepares for the holy month of Ramadan.
