Ramadan moon sighted in Pakistan

KARACHI:  The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee has officially announced the sighting of the crescent moon for Ramadan 1447 Hijri, confirming that the first fast will begin tomorrow, 19 February 2026.

The central meeting, chaired by Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad, was held in Peshawar. Simultaneously, zonal committee meetings were conducted in Karachi, Quetta, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and other regions. Eyewitness reports of the crescent sighting from these areas were collected and submitted to the central committee.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, the chairman said that multiple verified testimonies had been received from across the country. Based on these reports, it was unanimously decided that Ramadan will commence nationwide tomorrow.

Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad formally announced the moon sighting, confirming that Ramadan 1447 Hijri had been observed throughout Pakistan.

Initially, the central committee received 21 sighting reports from Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Charsadda, Nowshera, and Islamabad. In addition, the zonal committees submitted 6 additional testimonies, confirming the crescent’s visibility.

This announcement ensures a unified start of Ramadan across Pakistan, aligning with the tradition of moon sighting for the holy month.