Ramadan chand live updates: Moon sighted in Pakistan, first roza to be observed on Thursday

PESHAWAR: The Central Reut-e-Hilal Committee announced on Wednesday that the Ramadan moon was sighted in Pakistan and the holy month will begin from tomorrow (Thursday).

The announcement was made by Chairman Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Maulana Abdul Kabir Azad, hours after the body kickstarted its session, from Peshawar where he was chairing the meeting to sight the moon.

The central body was holding its meeting at the Auqaf Department building while the zonal and district Ruet-e-Hilal committees are also meeting at their respective offices across the country.

Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) had said that the duration of Ramadan moon sighting in Karachi was up to 7:28pm while in Quetta moon could be sighted till 7:15pm.

The chairman had Ruet-e-Hilal will finalise the Ramadan moon sighting decision based on eyewitness accounts and the decision was announced accordingly as evidence was received from Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Mardan, and Swabi.

According to reports, the Ramadan moon was also not sighted in India and Bangladesh.

Earlier, an official of the Ministry of Religious Affairs told The News along with holding meetings of the committee in all provinces in rotation, the purpose for holding the meeting this time in Peshawar is also to create consensus on the sighting of the crescent of Ramadan on the same day.

He said that along with receiving calls for evidence, the committee would also invite people from the private Ruet committee to record their statements. The committee will also cross-question people recording their evidence to ascertain the same.

“We want to create consensus on this issue so that the holy month of Ramazan falls on the same day across the country,” he said.

It should be noted that Saudi Arabia will start the fasting month of Ramadan on Thursday (March 23) along with most other Gulf states.