KARACHI: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meet on Sunday in Karachi to sight the Zil Hajj crescent, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony said on Saturday.
The meeting will be held at the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) office in Karachi, the ministry added.
If the moon is sighted on Sunday, Eid ul Adha will be observed on May 27; otherwise, it will fall on May 28.
Meanwhile, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has forecast that the new moon is likely to be visible on May 17.
A spokesperson for SUPARCO said the age of the new moon at sunset on May 17 will be approximately 18 hours and 30 minutes, a condition generally considered favorable for visibility in several parts of the country.
The spokesperson added that the new moon is expected to be born at 1:01 am on the same day, supporting the lunar progression timeline.
According to SUPARCO, atmospheric and astronomical conditions are expected to be suitable for sighting the crescent on the evening of May 17, particularly in coastal areas where a gap of around 60 minutes between sunset and moonset may improve visibility chances.
Based on these projections, the first day of Zil Hajj is expected to fall on May 18, while Eid ul Adha is likely to be observed on May 27, subject to official confirmation.
More read, Shawwal moon sighting: Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee convenes tomorrow
However, the final decision will be announced by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
