Ramazan moon sighted in Pakistan, holy month to begin on Thursday

PESHAWAR: Pakistan will observe the first day of Ramadan 2026 on Thursday (February 19), as the crescent moon for the holy month has been sighted, announced Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad on Wednesday.

The announcement was made by committee chairman, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, as it met in Peshawar for the moon sighting.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Azad said that the skies were clear in some areas and cloudy in others. He said that testimonies were received from several parts of the country, including Quetta, Islamabad, Waziristan, Dir, Karachi, Buner, Mardan and Tando Allahyar.

“Therefore, it was decided with consensus that the first day of Ramazan would be on Thursday,” he said. Meanwhile, according to the Daily Star, the crescent moon was also sighted in Bangladesh.

Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan observed their first day of fasting on Wednesday after the crescent moon was sighted on Tuesday night.

Earlier, Chairman of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, Maulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabeer Azad, on Wednesday, hoped that Pakistan will observe the first fast of Ramadan on the same day across the country this year. Maulana Azad said that for the past several years, a single nationwide fasting day has been announced and, God willing, the same practice will continue this year as well.