ISLAMABAD: Muslims worldwide eagerly anticipate the arrival of the blessed month of Ramadan, widely regarded as the holiest time in the Islamic calendar. While the commencement of the lunar month generally occurs in March, an approximate date has been officially suggested for Saudi Arabia.
According to reports from Saudi Arabia, an astronomy expert, Ibrahim Al Jarwan, who serves as the chairman of the board of the Emirates Astronomy Society, predicts that the first day of fasting, known as roza, may occur on March 11.
Al Jarwan also mentioned that the summer season in Saudi Arabia is expected to commence on December 22 and conclude on March 20.
This unique alignment implies that Ramadan will coincide with the summer season for the first time in 26 years, lasting until 2031. Subsequently, the month will revert to the winter season for eight years, spanning from 2031 to 2039.
The duration of each daily fast extends from sunrise to sunset, varying across different regions of the world. For the upcoming Ramadan, fasting periods may range between 12 to 17 hours.
In Saudi Arabia specifically, it is anticipated that each day’s fast will last between 13 and 15 hours. The chosen date for the beginning of Ramadan also indicates that Eid-ul Fitr, the festive conclusion of Ramadan, could potentially fall around April 10 or 11.
Meanwhile, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have recently solidified their collaboration through the signing of several agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at enhancing the overall pilgrimage experience for Pakistani pilgrims during the upcoming Hajj.
The signing ceremony, orchestrated by the Director General of Hajj from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, marked a significant step towards ensuring improved facilities and services for Pakistani pilgrims.
Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Aneeq Ahmed, expressed optimism about the forthcoming Hajj season, assuring that Pakistani pilgrims would be provided with enhanced accommodations at crucial locations such as Mina and Arafat.
During his remarks at the ceremony, Minister Aneeq Ahmed took a moment to commend the authorities of the Ministry of Religious Affairs for their unwavering dedication and tireless efforts in consistently striving to elevate the standards of facilities provided to pilgrims during the Hajj pilgrimage.
This recognition underscores the commitment of the Pakistani government to prioritize the welfare and comfort of its citizens undertaking this sacred journey.
In a related development, it has come to light that Pakistan has opted to relinquish its quota for the Hajj 2024 sponsorship scheme to Saudi Arabia for the current year. This decision stems from a shortfall in the number of applications received, leading to the available seats surpassing the demand.
The government had initially allocated 25,000 seats under the ‘Sponsorship Scheme Hajj,’ a novel initiative introduced this year. This scheme allowed overseas Pakistanis to apply for Hajj or sponsor individuals in Pakistan for the pilgrimage by making payments in US dollars.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
