According to the Meteorological Department, there is a strong possibility that the moon of Ramadan 1447 AH will be sighted on Wednesday, raising expectations that preparations for the holy month will accelerate across the country.
The department stated that the birth of the Ramadan crescent will take place on February 17, 2026, at 5:01 PM Pakistan Standard Time, marking a key astronomical event in the moon-sighting process.
Astronomers have indicated that weather conditions across most parts of Pakistan on February 18 are expected to remain partly cloudy or clear, which enhances the likelihood of sighting the Ramadan moon on 29th Sha’ban 1447 AH. However, the final decision will depend on actual visibility and prevailing atmospheric conditions.
The Meteorological Department has also issued the last sighting times for different regions to facilitate the moon observation process.
In Azad Kashmir, the last time for sighting the moon will be 6:58 PM; in Balochistan, 7:47 PM; in Sindh, 7:24 PM; in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,, 7:13 PM; in Punjab, 7:08 PM; and in Gilgit-Baltistan, 6:53 PM. These timings have been calculated based on geographical location and local atmospheric conditions.
Experts emphasized that while astronomical data suggests strong chances of visibility, the final announcement regarding the start of Ramadan will be made by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
