Pakistan will celebrate Eid al-Fitr on Saturday (March 21) after the Shawwal crescent was not sighted anywhere in the country on Thursday.

The announcement came following a meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee held in Islamabad, chaired by religious scholar Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad. The committee reviewed testimonies from across the country before confirming that no credible sighting had been reported.

Zonal committee meetings were also held simultaneously in major cities, including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta.

Earlier, the Pakistan Meteorological Department had forecast that the crescent would not be visible on March 19 due to its low age. The new moon was born at 6:23 a.m., making it only 12 to 13 hours old by sunset — well below the 18 to 20 hours typically required for naked-eye visibility.

Space agency SUPARCO had also indicated a low probability of sighting the moon on Thursday, reinforcing expectations of a 30-day Ramazan.

Officials said the Shawwal crescent is likely to be clearly visible on Friday evening, paving the way for Eid celebrations the following day.

Authorities reiterated that while scientific assessments guide expectations, the final decision rests on verified moon sightings under established religious procedures.

Ramazan in Pakistan began on February 19 this year, completing a full 30-day cycle before Eid al-Fitr.