PESHAWAR – The moon for Ramadan has been sighted, and the first fast will be observed tomorrow (Feb 19). An official announcement is expected shortly.
The meeting is being chaired by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, Chairman of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee. Members of the central and zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Peshawar are in attendance.
Participants in the meeting include DG Ministry of Religious Affairs Hafiz Abdul Qadoos, Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) representative Shaukat Ullah, Meteorological Department representative Dr. Hassan Ali Baig, and Zain-ul-Abideen from the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad appealed to the public to sight the Ramadan moon and expressed hope that, God willing, the holy month would begin across the country on the same day this year.
Zonal committee meetings are also underway in Islamabad and other provincial capitals besides Peshawar.
According to Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee member Mufti Ateeq-ur-Rehman, the committee initially received five testimonies of moon sighting from Upper Dir, while six testimonies were received by the zonal committee in Mohmand district. So far, the central committee has received a total of 40 testimonies.
A spokesperson for SUPARCO stated that the moon was born on February 17, 2026, at 5:01 pm. At sunset today, the moon’s age will be 25 hours and 48 minutes, making visibility with the naked eye possible. The final announcement regarding moon sighting will be made by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
The Meteorological Department said the moon will rise at 5:54 pm and remain visible until 6:52 pm. However, due to cloudy conditions in Lahore and surrounding areas, the chances of sighting the moon there are low. In Peshawar, clear skies would increase the likelihood of sighting.
Meanwhile, the Ramadan moon has also been sighted in Bangladesh and India, where the first fast will be observed on February 19.
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