F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: The Ramazan moon has been sighted in Pakistan and the first Roza will be observed across the country today (Tuesday), the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced on Monday evening.
Moon sighting committee chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad made the official announcement following a meeting in Peshawar. The clerics from all schools of thought attended the huddle to ascertain the beginning of the ninth Islamic month. The Ramazan moon was sighted in Lahore and Peshawar before the official announcement.
Ramazan has already begun in several parts of the world, including the Middle East, Europe and other regions and as per astronomical parameters there are high chances that the moon will be sighted in Pakistan today as well. The moon sighting body had requested all the Pakistanis for assistance in this regard with wishes that the holy month begins across the country on the same day.
Meanwhile, meetings of other zonal and district Ruet-e-Hilal committees were held simultaneously at their respective places on Shaban 29 after Asr prayers, for the Ramazan moon sighting of Hijri year 1445. The holy month, which is observed with religious fervour and zeal, will see millions of Pakistanis along with billions of Muslims around the world observing fast from dawn till sunset with the fasting hours falling between 12 to 17 hours — depending on the geographical locations across the globe.
Like many other countries, Ramadan, in Pakistan, is marked by increased charity and public food drives with the people establishing roadside stalls for people returning to their homes in the evening. Meanwhile, the Ramazan moon was sighted on Sunday evening in Saudi Arabia, according to the local media. Therefore, the holy month has begun in the kingdom on Monday, March 11.
Earlier, Saudi Arabia had called on Muslims to sight the crescent of Ramazan. The Supreme Court called on whoever sights the crescent — either by the naked eye or through binoculars — to report to the nearest court and register their observation, Khaleej Times reported. The holy month will also begin in the UAE on Monday, March 11, as the country’s moon-sighting committee said the crescent moon for the holy month was spotted on Sunday evening.
Several other countries have already announced March 12 as the beginning of Ramazan, including Australia, Malaysia, Philippines and Brunei. Oman, too, has announced that it will observe the beginning of Ramazan on March 12, as there was no sighting of the crescent moon on Sunday evening.
