Summary Ashura observance date finalised
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Pakistan has confirmed that the Muharram crescent was not sighted anywhere in the country, officially marking 17 June (Wednesday) as the first day of Muharram 1448 AH.
The announcement was made following a meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee held in Lahore, where religious scholars and officials reviewed moon sighting reports from across Pakistan.
The meeting was chaired by the committee’s head, Maulana Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad, and attended by members of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee and zonal committees. Representatives from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) were also present to assist in the verification process.
During the proceedings in Lahore, detailed reports from zonal committees across all provinces were presented and examined. Officials confirmed that no credible testimonies of moon sighting were received from any region of the country.
Separate meetings of zonal Ruet-e-Hilal committees were also held simultaneously at their respective locations. These committees coordinated with local observers and relevant authorities to assess visibility conditions, all of which reported no sighting of the Muharram crescent.
Following the unanimous findings, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced that 1st Muharram would fall on 17 June, Wednesday, while Youm-e-Ashura will be observed on 26 June, Friday. The dates were finalised in line with the Islamic lunar calendar after the absence of confirmed crescent sightings across Pakistan.
