ISLAMABAD: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced on Tuesday that the Zil Hajj moon was not sighted anywhere in Pakistan. As a result, Eid-ul-Azha will be celebrated across the country on Saturday, June 7.
The announcement came after an official meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee held in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad. Zonal committees also held meetings in major cities, but no credible reports of moon sightings were received.
Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad said the committee did not receive any testimonies of moon sighting from any part of the country. “Therefore, 1st Zil Hajj will be on Thursday, May 29, and Eid-ul-Azha will be observed on Saturday, June 7,” he announced.
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Eid-ul-Azha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is one of the most important Islamic festivals, celebrated in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim’s ( AS) willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah. It falls on the 10th day of Zil Hajj, the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
Preparations for Eid-ul-Azha are already underway, with cattle markets being set up in various cities. Citizens have started buying sacrificial animals, and security arrangements are being made to manage the rush and ensure cleanliness during the festival days.
Meanwhile, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) had also predicted that Eid-ul-Azha in Pakistan would fall on June 7, based on scientific data and astronomical analysis.
According to SUPARCO, the 1st of Zil Hajj was expected on May 29, with Eid-ul-Azha likely to be celebrated on June 7 across Pakistan.
Preparations for Eid-ul-Azha are already underway. Cattle markets have opened in many cities, and local authorities are planning arrangements for cleanliness, traffic control, and public safety during the Eid holidays.