According to foreign media reports, the crescent moon of Ramadan was not sighted in several countries, including Malaysia and Singapore. As a result, the first fast of the holy month will be observed on Sunday in these regions.
Similarly, Australia and Brunei have also announced that the first fast will be on Sunday, following the absence of moon sighting reports.
Meanwhile, the Ramadan moon was not sighted in Lucknow, India, according to Indian media reports. Similarly, Sri Lanka also did not confirm the sighting of the crescent.
However, the Indonesian government officially announced the sighting of the moon, confirming that the first fast will be observed in the country tomorrow (Sunday). Indonesian media reported that the government’s announcement came half an hour later than the scheduled time.
Authorities in these countries rely on official moon sighting committees and astronomical calculations to determine the beginning of the Islamic month. With the moon not visible, Ramadan will commence a day later than in regions where the crescent was spotted.
The moon of Ramazan has been sighted in Saudi Arabia, marking the beginning of the holy month. According to details, the first day of fasting will be observed tomorrow, Saturday, March 1.
On the other hand, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee of Pakistan, led by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, convened in Peshawar to sight the Ramadan moon. Zonal committees across major cities, including Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, and Islamabad, also held meetings to assess moon sighting reports.
According to officials, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) utilized digital telescopes nationwide, linking their stations via video in Peshawar to aid in crescent observation. Representatives from the Met Department and scholars from various sects participated in the deliberations.
The Met Department reported cloudy conditions in several cities, including Islamabad, Lahore, and Quetta, reducing the likelihood of spotting the moon.
