The sighting of the new moon marking the beginning of Zil Hajj 1447 Hijri is expected on the evening of May 17, according to preliminary astronomical projections issued by SUPARCO on Tuesday.
Image: Geo News
A spokesperson for the space agency said the age of the new moon at sunset on May 17 will be around 18 hours and 30 minutes, a condition generally considered favorable for visibility in several parts of the country.
He added that the moon is expected to be born at 1:01am on the same day, providing a basis for its expected visibility later in the evening.
According to SUPARCO, atmospheric and astronomical conditions are likely to support crescent sighting on May 17, particularly in coastal areas where there may be a gap of around 60 minutes between sunset and moonset, improving visibility chances.
Based on these projections, the first day of Zil Hajj 1447 Hijri is expected to fall on May 18, while Eid-ul-Adha is likely to be observed on May 27, subject to official confirmation.
However, SUPARCO clarified that the final decision regarding the moon sighting will be made by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, which will formally announce the start of the Islamic month after reviewing nationwide observations.
