Islamabad (Web Desk): The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is set to meet in Peshawar today (Wednesday) for sighting of Ramazan-ul-Mubarak 1447 Hijri moon.
The meeting will be led by the committee’s chairman, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, and is scheduled to take place in the conference hall of the Department of Auqaf, Hajj, Religious and Minority Affairs.
After reviewing reports and testimonies received from different parts of the country, the final decision regarding the sighting of the Ramazan moon will be formally announced by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad.
Simultaneously, zonal Ruet-e-Hilal committee meetings will also be held in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Quetta, following a notification issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs to ensure coordinated proceedings nationwide.
On the scientific front, the Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast that the crescent is likely to be visible on the evening of Wednesday, February 18, making February 19 the expected first day of fasting.
According to its Climate Data Processing Centre, astronomical calculations indicate a strong likelihood of sighting the Ramazan 1447 AH moon on February 18, which corresponds to the 29th of Shaban.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has also released its assessment regarding the new moon for Ramadan 1447 Hijri.
The agency stated that the moon was born on February 17, 2026, at 5:01 PM Pakistan Standard Time. By sunset on February 18, the moon’s age is projected to reach approximately 25 hours and 48 minutes.
SUPARCO further noted that coastal regions are expected to have nearly a 59-minute gap between sunset and moonset, a factor that could significantly improve visibility.
In light of these astronomical indicators, the crescent is anticipated to be visible to the naked eye on February 18, suggesting that Ramadan is likely to commence on February 19, 2026.