The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced on Friday that the Zilhaj moon has been sighted, and Eidul Azha will be observed on June 17. The announcement was made after a meeting at the Pakistan Meteorological Department building in Karachi, with simultaneous zonal meetings in provincial capitals and Islamabad.
During the meeting, officials from the Peshawar zonal committee confirmed the moon sighting, but the official announcement was made by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad stated that testimonies of moon sightings were received from various cities across the country, including Peshawar, Attock, Kohat, Mianwali, Taxila, Murree, Narowal, and Lahore. “You know this is a very blessed month and the merits of these 10 days [of Haj] have also been explained,” he said, urging people to spend the days in worship.
Maulana Azad emphasized the country’s progress and called for national unity to thwart the schemes of its enemies. He also highlighted the nation’s support for law enforcement agencies working to ensure the country’s security.
In a related development, Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court announced the sighting of the Zilhaj moon a day earlier, marking the beginning of the last month of the Islamic calendar. The rituals of Haj will commence on June 14, with the Day of Arafat on June 15, and Eidul Azha to be observed in the kingdom on June 16.
Eidul Azha, also known as the “Festival of Sacrifice,” is a significant Islamic holiday commemorating the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God.
