SUPARCO says Eid-ul-Fitr likely on March 21
- The new moon of Shawwal is expected to be born on March 19 at 06:23 PST
The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) said on Wednesday that the chances of sighting the Shawwal crescent on March 19 are low, making March 21 the likely date for Eid-ul-Fitr in Pakistan.
According to SUPARCO, the new moon of Shawwal 1447 AH is expected to be born on March 19 at 06:23 PST.
At sunset on the same day, the moon’s age will be about 12 hours and 41 minutes, while the interval between sunset and moonset along Pakistan’s coastal areas will be around 28 minutes.
Based on these astronomical parameters, SUPARCO said the probability of crescent visibility on the evening of March 19 remains low.
Consequently, 1st Shawwal 1447 AH is expected to fall on Saturday, March 21, marking the end of the holy month of Ramzan.
However, the final announcement regarding the sighting of the Shawwal crescent will be made by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, the country’s official body responsible for confirming the start of Islamic months based on verified testimonies and observations from across Pakistan.