Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Muhammad Abdul Khabeer Azad looks through the telescope for the new moon. Photo: AFP
The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced on Sunday that the moon Zilhajj 1447 AH had been sighted in the country and Eidul Azha would be observed on May 27.
According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee on 29th Zilhajj, May 17, was held at the Meteorological Department in Karachi.
The meeting was presided over by the Chairman of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad, while meetings of zonal moon sighting committees were held at the provincial headquarters.
Zonal selections were held in Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar. The Ministry of Religious Affairs has also issued a notification to this effect.
If the Zilhajj moon is sighted on May 17, Eidul Azha will fall on Wednesday, May 27, while if the moon is not sighted, Eid will be observed on Thursday, May 28.
On May 12, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) issued its forecast for the sighting of the Zilhajj 1447 AH moon, saying that Eidul Azha is expected to be observed on May 27.
According to SUPARCO, the new moon of Zilhajj 1447 AH is expected to be born on May 17, 2026 at 01:01 Pakistan Standard Time (PST).
It said that on May 17, 2026, at sunset, the age of the new moon would be approximately 18 hours and 30 minutes.
Read: Eidul Azha is likely to fall on May 27: SUPARCO
The commission stated that a time difference of about 60 minutes is expected between sunset and moonset in Pakistan’s coastal areas.
Based on these astronomical parameters, SUPARCO said the chances of seeing the Zilhajj moon on the evening of May 17, 2026 are considered favorable, provided weather conditions remain clear and near-horizon visibility is good.
It said that 1st Zilhajj 1447 Hijri is expected to fall on Monday, May 18, 2026, marking the end of the month of Zilhajj.
