Meeting Scheduled at Badshahi Mosque in Lahore
The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meet on June 15 to sight the Muharram-ul-Haram 1448 AH moon.
The meeting will decide the beginning of the new Islamic year in Pakistan.
According to an official announcement, Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad will chair the meeting.
The session will be held at Iqbal Hall, Badshahi Mosque, Lahore.
Members of the committee will review moon-sighting reports from different parts of the country.
After examining testimonies and technical information, the committee will issue an official announcement.
The decision will determine whether Muharram begins the next day or the following day.
Met Office Says Crescent Visibility Is Unlikely
The Pakistan Meteorological Department has said there are no chances of sighting the Muharram moon on June 15.
According to the Met Office, the time between the birth of the moon and sunset will not be enough for the crescent to become visible.
In an advisory issued on June 11, the department said the moon is expected to be born at 7:54am on June 15.
However, it added that the crescent will not be visible by sunset on Zil Hajj 29.
Weather conditions are expected to remain clear in several parts of the country.
Still, clear weather alone may not support moon sighting if the crescent is too young.
The PMD also shared moonset timings for different regions.
The moon is expected to set at 7:59pm in Punjab, 8:55pm in Sindh, 8:23pm in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 8:34pm in Balochistan.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, the moon will set at 8:00pm. In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, it will remain above the horizon until 8:07pm.
Muharram Holds Deep Religious Significance
Muharram is one of the four sacred months in Islam.
It marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar year.
The 10th day of Muharram is observed as Ashura.
Ashura is remembered for the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, and his family members in the Battle of Karbala.
Across Pakistan, religious processions and gatherings are held during Muharram.
Scholars address large gatherings, while security and administrative arrangements are usually strengthened across the country.
The final announcement about the moon sighting will be made after the committee completes its review on June 15.
