Ramadan moon sighted, Pakistan to observe first fast on Thursday

Shahjahan Khurram
A member of Pakistan's moon sighting committee check weather as they gather to look for the new moon that will mark the start of Ramadan, from the office of the administrator Auqaf building in Charsadda March 22, 2023. (REUTERS)
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  • Moon-sighting testimonies received from Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Mardan and other cities, Ruet-e-Hilal Committee says
  • Muslims in Pakistan and around the world fast from dawn till sunset during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's central moon-sighting committee announced on Wednesday that the Ramadan moon had been sighted and the nation would observe the first fast of the holy month from Thursday. 

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (RHC), Pakistan's official body responsible for sighting the new moon marking the beginning of each Islamic month, held a meeting to sight the Ramadan crescent in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar. 

"Testimonies of sighting the moon of the holy month of Ramadan were received from many parts of Pakistan," RHC Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad said during a news conference. "These [areas] included Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Swabi, Killa Saifullah and Mardan. And the moon has been sighted," he added. 

"Hence, it was decided according to consensus that the first of Ramadan, 144 A.H. will fall on Thursday, March 23, 2023, God willing," Azad said.  

 

 

 

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, wherein Muslims abstain from food and drink from sunrise till sunset for a month.

This is followed by the sighting of the new moon and is marked by Eid Al-Fitr, a religious holiday and celebration that is observed by Muslims across the world.