Ramazan moon not sighted, holy month to begin on March 2
Pakistan
Abdul Khabir Azad announced that the first Ramazan will fall on March 2
PESHAWAR (Dunya News) – The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee announced on Friday that the Ramazan moon was not sighted, confirming that the holy month will commence on March 2 (Sunday).
The committee, headed by Chairman Moulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad, convened in Peshawar to observe the Ramazan moon. Simultaneously, zonal Ruet-i-Hilal Committees in Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, and other cities also held meetings for moon sighting.
After the meeting, Abdul Khabir Azad announced that the first Ramazan will fall on March 2 while addressing the press conference.
Read also: Ruet-e-Hilal Committee to meet today for Ramazan moon sighting
Earlier, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) had forecasted that Ramazan would likely start on March 2, with Eidul Fitr expected on March 31.
Suparco emphasised that the final announcement rests with the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee, which relies on visual moon sightings as per religious tradition.
According to Suparco, the new moon is expected to appear on February 28, 2025, at 5:45 AM (PST). However, factors such as the moon’s age, its distance from the sun, and atmospheric conditions make its visibility highly unlikely even with optical aid.
Consequently, Sha’aban is expected to complete 30 days, and the first fast will most likely be observed on March 2.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) also confirmed on February 7 that the moon would not be visible on Feb 28.
