ISLAMABAD: The country will observe Eidul Fitr on Saturday, as the Shawwal moon could not be sighted on Thursday, the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee said.

The announcement was made by the committee’s chairman, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, at a press conference in Islamabad. Separate meetings of the zonal and district moon-sighting committees were also held at their provincial headquarters in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta.

“The sky was partially cloudy in some parts of the country, including Islam­abad and we have been in contact with all the zonal committees. However, no information regarding the sighting of the Shawwal moon has been received from any part of Pakis­tan,” Maulana Azad said.

“It was unanimously decided that the first of Shawwal will be on April 22,” he said. Shortly after the announcement was made, the Ministry of Religious Affairs issued a notification stating that Shawwal 1, 1444 AH, would begin on Saturday.

Separately, an unofficial moon-sighting committee headed by Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai met in Peshawar and concurred that the moon had not been sighted and therefore Eid would be celebrated on Saturday.

Earlier on Thursday, the Pakistan Meteoro­logical Department said there was no chance of moon sighting on Thursday. The government has announced a five-day holiday for Eid from April 21 to 25.

Meanwhile, Eidul Fitr in Saudi Arabia will be celebrated on Friday (today), the official Saudi Press Agency said on its Twitter account, citing a royal court statement.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2023