Karachi: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meet in Karachi today (Sunday) to sight the crescent moon of Zil Hajj, as preparations for Eid ul Adha continue across Pakistan.
According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, the central moon-sighting meeting will be held at the office of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) in Karachi.
Officials said regional and zonal Ruet-e-Hilal committees will also convene in different parts of the country to collect testimonies regarding the sighting of the crescent.
If the Zil Hajj moon is sighted today, the first day of Zil Hajj will fall on Monday, May 18, and Eid ul Adha will be observed on May 27.
However, if the crescent is not sighted, Eid ul Adha will be celebrated on May 28 instead.
Earlier, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) forecast favourable conditions for the moon’s visibility on the evening of May 17.
According to a spokesperson for Suparco, the age of the new moon at sunset on Sunday is expected to be approximately 18 hours and 30 minutes — a duration generally considered suitable for crescent visibility in several regions of Pakistan.
The spokesperson said the new moon was expected to be born at 1:01am on May 17, providing conditions supportive of lunar visibility later in the evening.
Suparco further stated that both astronomical and atmospheric conditions appear favourable for sighting the crescent moon across multiple areas of the country.
The space agency particularly highlighted coastal regions, where the interval between sunset and moonset is expected to remain around 60 minutes, significantly increasing the chances of visibility.
Based on these projections, Suparco estimated that Zil Hajj would likely begin on May 18 and Eid ul Adha would probably fall on May 27.
However, the agency clarified that the final and official announcement regarding moon sighting rests solely with the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is responsible for determining the beginning of Islamic months in Pakistan through moon sighting testimonies and technical consultation with meteorological and astronomical experts.
Eid ul Adha, one of the most significant Islamic festivals, is observed by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah’s command.
The festival is marked by special prayers, animal sacrifices, and charitable distribution of meat among relatives and underprivileged communities.