Ruet-i-Hilal Committee meets to sight Zilhaj moon

A meeting of the Ruet-i-Hilal Committee is currently under way to sight the Zilhaj moon, based on which the dates for Eidul Azha are to be determined.

The meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is being held in Karachi, while other zonal committees are holding meetings in other cities.

Speaking to the media at around 7:30pm, Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad said no moon sighting testimonies had been received so far.

He, however, added that there were “ample chances” of the moon being sighted.

The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee chairperson said they were in contact with all zonal committees.

Earlier this week, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) forecast that Eidul Azha was expected to fall on May 27 as the “new moon of Zilhajj 1447 AH is expected to be born on May 17 at 1:01am”.

At sunset the same day, the age of the new moon would be approximately 18 hours and 30 minutes, it said in a statement, estimating an interval of 60 minutes between “sunset and moonset along the country’s coastal belt”.

“Based on these astronomical parameters, the chances of sighting the Zilhajj crescent on the evening of May 17 are considered favourable,“ Suparco said, adding it would be subject to clear weather conditions and visibility near the horizon.

“Consequently, the 1st Zilhajj 1447 AH is anticipated to fall on Monday, May 18, marking the conclusion of the holy month of Zilqad,” it said.

Therefore, Eidul Azha will fall on May 27, Suparco said.