The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee on Monday announced that the moon of Muharram-ul-Haram 1448 AH was not sighted anywhere in Pakistan, meaning the first day of the 1st Muharram will fall on Wednesday, June 17.

The announcement was made by Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad after a meeting held at Iqbal Hall, Badshahi Mosque in Lahore to review moon sighting testimonies received from across the country.

Speaking after the meeting, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad said no credible reports of the Muharram moon sighting were received from any part of Pakistan.

As a result, he said, the month of Muharram-ul-Haram will begin on June 17, while Youm-e-Ashura, observed on the 10th of Muharram, will fall on Friday, June 26.

The committee met after Maghrib prayers to assess reports from zonal and district moon sighting committees, as well as information collected from various regions of the country.

Muharram marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar year and is one of the four sacred months in Islam.

The 10th of Muharram, known as Ashura, is observed with religious significance across the Muslim world, particularly in remembrance of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (RA) and his companions at Karbala.