Live moon sighting in Pakistan; Ruet-e-Hilal committee meets today in Peshawar

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Pakistan will convene Monday to sight the moon for the holy month of Ramadan.

Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad will preside over the meeting of clerics from all schools of thought to ascertain the beginning of the ninth Islamic month.

Ramadan has already begun in several parts of the world, including the Middle East, Europe and other regions and as per astronomical parameters there are high chances that the moon will be sighted in Pakistan today as well.

The meeting of the moon-sighting body is set to take place today in Peshawar. The body has requested all the Pakistanis for assistance in this regard with wishes that the holy month begins across the country on the same day.

If the moon is sighted today, the holy month will begin on Tuesday (tomorrow).

Meanwhile, meetings of other zonal and district Ruet-e-Hilal committees will be held simultaneously at their respective places on Shaban 29 after Asr prayers, for the Ramadan moon sighting of Hijri year 1445.

The Ramadan moon was expected to be born at 2pm Sunday and it could be sighted today, when its age would be more than 28 hours, as per the Met Office.

The holy month, which is observed with religious fervour and zeal, will see millions of Pakistanis along with billions of Muslims around the world observing fast from dawn till sunset with the fasting hours falling between 12 to 17 hours — depending on the geographical locations across the globe.

Like many other countries, Ramadan, in Pakistan, is marked by increased charity and public food drives with the people establishing roadside stalls for people returning to their homes in the evening.