Ruet-e-Hilal Committee meets today to sight Ramazan moon

KARACHI: The central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will hold its meeting on Wednesday (today) here, to sight the crescent for the holy month of Ramazan, 1439 AH.

Mufti Munib-ur-Rehman will preside over the meeting of the Committee.

Besides, Provincial and District Ruet-e-Hilal Committees would also meet in their respective areas to collect the evidence about sighting of the moon.

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee gathers information and evidence from across the country regarding sighting of the moon to announce advent of the holy month.

The first fast of the month of Ramazan is likely to be observed on Thursday. In Karachi, the sun will set at 7:10 PM, and there will be 61 minutes window for sighting the moon. Secretary Ruet-e-Hilal committee research council has said that the moon can be sighted across the country.

According to Pakistan Meteorological Department, the new moon will be born on crossing conjunction point at 16:49 PM on May 15 so there is fair chance of sighting the new moon of Ramazan today. The climate record forecasts the weather to be fair/partly cloudy in most parts of the country.

The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee has called on citizens to sight the crescent with the naked eye or through binoculars and to contact them on the following numbers and record their testimonies: Mufti Muneeb Ur Rehman 03009285203, 03212022000,Noor Salaam Shah 03335453499, Hafiz Abdul qadoos 0333-2697051, PMD 021-99261412, 021-99261413.

The committee also called on citizens to visit their nearest mosque before contacting them, and provide their location, CNIC number, and the Imam of the mosque.

In Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the crescent was not sighted on Tuesday. Therefore, the month of Ramzan will begin there on Thursday, May 17. Earlier the Australian National Imams Council has declared that the holy month of Ramazan will begin in the country on Thursday.