PESHAWAR (MNN); The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee announced on Wednesday that the Ramazan moon had been sighted, and the holy month would commence across Pakistan on Thursday, February 19.
The announcement was made by committee chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad after a meeting held in Peshawar to review moon sighting reports. Addressing the media, he stated that weather conditions were clear in some regions while cloudy in others.
He confirmed that testimonies of moon sighting were received from various parts of the country, including Quetta, Islamabad, Waziristan, Dir, Karachi, Buner, Mardan and Tando Allahyar. “After reviewing all reports, it was unanimously decided that the first of Ramazan will fall on Thursday,” he said.
According to media reports, the crescent was also sighted in Bangladesh and India. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan had begun fasting on Wednesday after sighting the moon on Tuesday evening.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended heartfelt greetings to the nation and Muslims worldwide on the start of Ramazan. He described the holy month as a divine blessing and an opportunity to renew values of devotion, humility, righteousness and spiritual purification.
“Fasting is not merely a religious obligation but a practical lesson in patience, discipline and responsibility in daily life,” the prime minister said. He added that the government had launched a Ramazan relief package to support vulnerable segments of society.
Under the initiative, financial assistance will be provided to deserving families through digital wallets to ensure transparent and dignified distribution.
President Asif Ali Zardari also conveyed his greetings, calling Ramazan a month of mercy, forgiveness and salvation. He noted that at a time when Pakistan faces social and economic challenges, the sacred month brings a message of hope, patience and unity.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari congratulated the Muslim Ummah in a message on X, while National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq urged citizens to show patience, avoid hoarding and profiteering, and ensure essential commodities remain available at reasonable prices.
Earlier, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission had predicted, based on astronomical calculations, that Ramazan was likely to begin on February 19.
It is noteworthy that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a Rs38 billion Ramazan Relief Package for 12.1 million deserving families across the four provinces, as well as Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Each eligible family will receive Rs13,000 through digital wallets or bank transfers without discrimination.
