ISLAMABAD: The Holy month of Ramadan is expected to begin in Pakistan in about a week, with the first roza likely to fall on March 12 (Tuesday).
According to weather expert Jawad Memon, although the moon for the month of Ramadan will be born on March 10, it will not be visible until March 11 when it can be seen with the naked eye, a local news website reported.
Memon stated, “The first Taraweeh will be observed on the night of March 11 [while] there is a 95% chance that the first fast will be on March 12.
Traditionally, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee meets in Islamabad along with the Zonal Committees in their respective regions to receive and evaluate reports of moon sightings before officially announcing the start of the holy month of Ramadan.
Meanwhile, international news agencies announced that on March 10, meetings will be held across Islamic nations to observe the crescent moon and gather testimonies, a key step in determining the official start of the holy month of Ramadan.
Leading astronomers have predicted that on March 10, the visibility of the moon is likely to be too faint to be seen with the naked eye or binoculars in much of the Arab and Islamic world, due to its conjunction with the sun.
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In light of these projections, the start of Ramadan is expected to fall on Tuesday, March 12, after the completion of 30 days in the month of Sha’ban.
This prediction is in accordance with the principles of the Islamic lunar calendar, which dictates the beginning of the Islamic months based on lunar visibility.
During Ramadan, which is observed with deep religious devotion, millions of Pakistanis, along with billions of Muslims around the world, will observe a dawn-to-sunset fast, with the fasting period typically lasting from 12 to 17 hours, depending on geographic location.
In Pakistan, Ramadan is characterized by increased charity events and public food drives, where people often set up roadside stalls to distribute food to those returning home in the evening.
Additionally, this month usually sees an increase in business activities due to religious festivities and increased shopping trends leading up to Eid ul Fitr.
