The announcement was made after a meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee in Islamabad, chaired by its chairman, Maulana Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad, to review moon sighting evidence.

The session, convened by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, was attended by technical experts and prominent religious scholars representing all schools of thought. Central and zonal committee members jointly assessed reports from across the country.

The committee said no credible testimony of the Sha’aban moon sighting was received from any area. Consequently, it declared January 21 as the first of Sha’aban.

According to the official announcement, Shab-e-Baraat will be observed on February 3, 2026.

Earlier, astronomical experts had predicted minimal chances of moon sighting on January 19. Pakistan’s space agency SUPARCO had also indicated that the new month was likely to begin on January 21.