ISLAMABAD: Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced that the Shawwal moon has not been sighted anywhere in Pakistan.
As a result, Friday will mark the 30th day of Ramadan 1447 AH, and Eid al-Fitr 2026 will be celebrated on Saturday, March 21.
The meeting to observe the Shawwal moon was held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad. Representatives from the Pakistan Meteorological Department and SUPARCO also attended the session.
In addition to Islamabad, zonal moon-sighting committees held meetings in all four provincial capitals and across the country.
Following the Islamabad meeting, Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad confirmed that no confirmed sighting of the Shawwal moon had been reported, ensuring that Ramadan will complete 30 days before the festival of Eid al-Fitr is observed.
On the other hand, Saudi Arabia announced that Eid ul-Fitr 2026 will be celebrated on Friday, March 20, after the Shawwal moon was not sighted in the kingdom.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia declared that Thursday will mark the completion of the 30th day of Ramadan
Similarly, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and other Gulf countries reported that the Shawwal crescent was not observed.
Eid ul-Fitr marks the conclusion of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, which is one of the five pillars of Islam. Devout Muslims are also encouraged to make charitable donations to those in need during this period.
This year, Ramadan celebrations across the Muslim world have been overshadowed by ongoing conflict in the Middle East following attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel. In retaliation, Iran has launched multiple strikes across the Gulf region targeting airports, residential areas, energy facilities, and military installations using ballistic missiles and drones.
