The Zilhaj moon has been sighted in Pakistan and Eidul Azha will be celebrated on June 17, Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad said on Friday.

“Testimonies of the moon of Zilhaj being sighted were received from several areas, including Pesahwar, Kohat, Attock, Mianwali, Karak, Havelian, Shujabad, Taxila, Murree, Narowal, and Lahore,” he said at a press conference in Karachi.

“So it was unanimously decided that the first of Zilhaj will fall on June 08, 2024 and Eidul Azha will be celebrated on June 17, 2024” he added.

The announcement was made after a meeting of the committee at the main offices of the Pakistan Meteorological Department in Karachi with Maulana Azad saying the sky remained clear in most parts of the country.

The meetings of zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committees were also held at their respective headquarters.

Earlier, Saudi Arabia announced that Eidul Azha in the kingdom would be celebrated on June 16 after the Zilhaj moon was sighted there on Thursday.

Parallel moon sighting efforts were conducted by Ruet-e-Hilal committees in all provincial capitals, ensuring a comprehensive approach to the moon sighting.

Additionally, there were zonal and divisional-level committees organised to support the overall moon sighting activities.

Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, representatives also participated in the Karachi meeting of the committee.

According to the Climate Data Processing Centre, the Zilhaj moon was expected to be sighted on Friday (today).

Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfaraz stated that the new Zilhaj moon would born “precisely at 5:38pm local time on June 6, with sunset expected at 7:20pm.”

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The moon was likely to be visible for 72 minutes after sunset.

He expressed that there was a high chance of the moon being sighted on June 7, as it would be more than 26 hours old by then.

Eid ul Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, is one of the two major Eid festivals celebrated by Muslims. It commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son for God.

Zilhaj, the 12th and last month of the Muslim lunar calendar, is considered one of the holiest in the Islamic year. Muslims often fast on the first nine days of this month.