KARACHI: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee sighted the moon on Wednesday and hence the first Ramzan will be observed on Thursday, Mufti Munib-ur-Rehman announced in the much-awaited press conference.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will have first Ramzan on the same day after six years.
The meeting of Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee was underway in Karachi for sighting the Ramzan moon.
Chairman of the committee Mufti Munib-ur-Rehman presided over the meeting. “The decision will be made on the basis of witnesses,” Munib-ur-Rehman told media.
Provincial and district-level Ruet-e-Hilal committees also met in their respective areas to record witnesses of the moon.
Meanwhile, the Met Office had forecasted ‘fair chance’ of sighting the moon. Earlier this month, it had announced, “According to astronomical parameters, there is Fair Chance of sighting the new moon of Ramzan, 1439 AH on the evening of 16-05-2018 i.e. on 29th of Shaban, 1439 AH.”
AROUND THE WORLD:
Ramzan will begin on Thursday, May 17, Saudi Arabia announced. Millions of Muslims around the world will begin the fasting month of Ramzan on Thursday.
South Korea, Japan, Australia and Singapore also declared Ramzan on Thursday.