Shawwal moon sighted, Eid on Thursday

Wednesday, May 12, will be the last and 29th of Ramadan 1442 Hijri, the moon sighting committee announced.

The meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee committee was held in Deputy Commissioner Complex Islamabad headed by Central Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir.

The committee was attended by Officials from the meteorological department, Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), and the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The meetings of the zonal committees also took place at their respective headquarters.

The decision of declaring Thursday as the first day of Eid-ul-Fitr was made after receiving testimonies of moon sighting across the country.

Abdul Khabir’s announcement came against the affirmation of former Minister for Science and Technology and now Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary's claim that the Eid ul Fitr would fall on May 14.

The minister had based his prediction according to the Ruet app and the calendar. However, Chaudhry had clarified in the same tweet that the final decision in this regard will be announced by the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.

The information minister said the moon will appear on May 13 and Eid will fall on May 14, according to the calendar and the moon sighting app.

It is to be noted that Saudia Arab and several other Gulf and African countries will observe Eid ul Fitr on Thursday as the Shawal moon couldn’t be sighted there on Tuesday.