Pakistan has officially announced that the crescent moon marking the beginning of Muharram 1448 AH was not sighted anywhere in the country, making June 17 (Wednesday) the first day of the Islamic month. The decision was announced after a meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee in Lahore, where moon sighting reports from across the country were reviewed.
Meeting Details
The session was chaired by Maulana Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad and attended by committee members, religious scholars, and officials from various government institutions. Representatives of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and SUPARCO also participated in the verification process.
Verification Process
During the meeting, reports submitted by zonal Ruet-e-Hilal committees from all provinces were examined in detail. Authorities confirmed that no reliable or verified testimony regarding the sighting of the Muharram crescent was received from any part of Pakistan. Simultaneously, zonal committees held separate meetings in their respective regions and coordinated with local observers to assess visibility conditions. However, none of the committees reported a confirmed moon sighting.
Declaration and Key Dates
Based on the unanimous findings, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee declared that 1st Muharram 1448 AH will begin on June 17, while Youm-e-Ashura, observed on the 10th of Muharram, will fall on June 26 (Friday). The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has also announced a public holiday on 1st Muharram.
