ISLAMABAD: The crescent for the month of Shawwal was sighted in Pakistan on Tuesday and consequently, Eid Al-Fitr will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 10, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced.
The three-day Eid Al-Fitr festival starts on the first day of the month of Shawwal in the Islamic lunar calendar. The festival marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, the country’s apex moon-sighting body, met in Islamabad. The committee’s chairman, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, presided over the meeting.
“Testimonies were received from various of areas of Pakistan about the sighting of the moon of the month of Shawwal, which included Karachi, Dir, Faisalabad, Mohmand Agency, Skardu and others, where the moon has been sighted,” Maulana Azad said at a press conference on Tuesday evening.
“Hence, it was unanimously decided that the first of Shawwal, 1445 Hijri, will fall on Wednesday, April 10, 2024.”
Pakistan’s government on Thursday announced three-day holiday from April 10 till April 12 for offices observing five working days and four-day holidays from April 10-13 for offices observing six working days.
Meanwhile, the Shawwal crescent was not sighted in Saudi Arabia on Monday evening, Ramadan 29, the Kingdom’s Supreme Court announced. Eid Al-Fitr celebrations will commence throughout the Kingdom on Wednesday, April 10.
