The Shawwal moon has not been sighted, hence Eidul Fitr will fall on Saturday, April 22, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee said on Thursday.

“No authentic testimony of the moon being sighted was received therefore it was agreed with the consensus that Eidul Fitr will be on April 22,” committee chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad said at a press conference in Islamabad.

The Ruet body had met under the chairmanship of Azad at the Kohsar Complex, Pak Secretariat in the federal capital for the Shawwal moon sighting. Separate meetings of the zonal and district Ruet-i-Hilal committees were also held in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta.

Before making the announcement, Maulana Azad said that the weather was clear in most areas but cloudy in some.

Later, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony issued a notification stating that Shawwal 1, 1444 AH would commence from Saturday.

Pakistanis would observe a five-day holiday for Eidul Fitr. It would be from April 21 to April 25. As expected, all businesses, public places, community markets, shops, etc would remain closed during this period. Only essential items’ shops and medical services/stores, as already notified, would remain open.

Maulana Azad prayed for Pakistan’s development and the former religious minister Mufti Abdul Shakoor who passed away on April 15.

Amid reports of two Eids in the country, Aaj News correspondent from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported that in some parts of the province, people would celebrate tomorrow (Friday), however, such people normally fast and celebrate Eid with Saudi Arabia.

He added that there was no official announcement in the province about Eid. “When Mufti Popalzai makes an announcement that is somehow considered an official one, and then more than 90 per cent of people celebrate with his announcement. But this time, he has called to fast tomorrow (Saturday) to complete 30 as no witness has testified before his committee,” the correspondent added.

Earlier in the day, the Pakistan Meteorological Department released the chances for sighting the moon.

“According to astronomical parameters, there is no chance of sighting the new moon of Shawwal, 1444 AH on the evening of April 20, 2023 i.e on 29th Ramazan, 1444 AH,” the had department said.

Meanwhile, Eidul Fitr will begin on Friday in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and France.

“Tomorrow, Friday, is the first day of Eid al-Fitr for this year,” with Thursday the last day of Ramazan, the official Saudi Press Agency said on its Twitter account citing a royal court statement.

Saudis are expected to observe a four-day holiday for Eidul Fitr.

France’s Muslim Theological Council has announced Eidul Fitr on April 21. More than five million Muslims in France will celebrate the festival.

The timing of Eidul Fitr is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon, in accordance with the Muslim lunar calendar.

The holiday is normally celebrated with family gatherings.