Ruet-i-Hilal Meeting Begins as Pakistan Awaits Eidul Azha Date

Pakistan’s Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee met in Karachi on Sunday to determine the sighting of the Zilhaj crescent, a decision that will officially set the date for Eidul Azha across the country. The meeting took place at a time when families, cattle traders, transporters and government departments are preparing for one of the most important religious events of the Islamic calendar.

The central committee’s session was held in Karachi, while zonal committees convened in other cities to collect and verify reports from across Pakistan. These regional observations are expected to be reviewed before any formal announcement is made about the start of Zilhaj 1447 AH.

At around 7:30pm, Ruet-i-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad told the media that no confirmed testimony of moon sighting had been received up to that point. He added, however, that conditions still appeared encouraging and that the committee remained in contact with zonal bodies for updates from different parts of the country.

The official position reflects the committee’s standard procedure, under which visual testimonies are reviewed alongside weather and astronomical inputs before a final decision is announced. The chairman’s remarks suggested that the process was still open and that the committee would continue waiting for credible reports before declaring whether Zilhaj had begun.

The meeting follows an earlier forecast by the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, which indicated that the Zilhaj moon was expected to be born at 1:01am on May 17. Suparco said the moon’s age at sunset would be roughly 18 hours and 30 minutes, a factor generally considered supportive for visibility if weather conditions are suitable.

According to the space agency’s assessment, the interval between sunset and moonset along Pakistan’s coastal belt was expected to be about 60 minutes. This window is significant because a longer gap increases the likelihood that trained observers may be able to spot the crescent near the horizon.

If the crescent is sighted, the first day of Zilhaj will fall on Monday, May 18, placing Eidul Azha on May 27. If the moon is not sighted, the Islamic month would begin a day later and the festival would shift accordingly, affecting holiday planning, livestock markets and official schedules.

Moon sighting announcements carry wide social and economic importance in Pakistan. Eidul Azha drives major livestock trade, intercity travel, market activity and administrative planning, while millions of citizens wait for the official date before finalising sacrifices, travel and family arrangements.

The final announcement is now expected after the committee completes consultations with its zonal offices and verifies any testimonies received from across the country. Until then, Pakistan remains on alert for the official confirmation that will determine the beginning of Zilhaj and the date of Eidul Azha.