Muharram Moon Not Sighted, Ashura to Be Observed on June 26

Pakistan will begin Muharram 1448 AH on Wednesday, June 17, after the crescent was not sighted anywhere in the country on Monday evening. The announcement means Youm-e-Ashura, the 10th of Muharram, will be observed nationwide on Friday, June 26.

The decision was made after the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee reviewed moon-sighting reports from across Pakistan. The committee met in Lahore, where officials examined testimonies and visibility information received through provincial and zonal networks.

According to the official determination, no reliable evidence of the Muharram crescent was received from any region. As a result, the outgoing Islamic month will complete its cycle, and the new Hijri month will begin on June 17 under the national lunar calendar decision.

The meeting was chaired by Maulana Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad and attended by religious scholars, committee members and representatives from relevant state institutions. Officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Science and Technology and SUPARCO were also part of the verification process.

The announcement is significant because Muharram marks one of the most sensitive and solemn periods in Pakistan’s religious calendar. The month is observed with mourning gatherings, majalis and processions, particularly by Shia communities, while security and administrative planning is usually intensified across major cities and sensitive districts.

Ashura commemorates the tragedy of Karbala in 680 AD, where Imam Hussain (RA), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and his companions were martyred. In Pakistan, the ninth and 10th of Muharram are usually marked by public holidays, large processions and strict coordination between religious organisers and law enforcement authorities.

The moon-sighting decision also gives provincial governments, police departments, district administrations and rescue services a confirmed calendar for finalising arrangements. Security plans, traffic diversions, medical camps and emergency response measures are expected to be aligned with the June 26 Ashura observance.

For citizens, the announcement clarifies the schedule for religious gatherings, travel planning, school and office routines, and public holiday expectations. Markets, transport operators and local administrations will now adjust their operations around the finalised Muharram calendar.

The next phase will focus on security coordination and public facilitation as Muharram begins. Authorities are expected to issue detailed advisories in the coming days, while religious leaders and community organisers will coordinate processions and majalis under locally approved routes and safety protocols.