By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: The Shawwal moon has not been sighted in Pakistan, Malaysia and Bangladesh, with all three countries confirming that Eidul Fitr will be celebrated on Saturday, March 21, 2026. The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee in Islamabad, chaired by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, concluded its meeting with the announcement that no credible testimonies of moon sighting were received from any part of the country, meaning Ramadan will complete 30 days .
The meeting was held at the Kohsar Block of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Islamabad, with participation from religious scholars, meteorological experts, and officials from relevant departments. Zonal Ruet-e-Hilal committees convened simultaneously in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta, collecting and reviewing reports before forwarding them to the central body . Officials from the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) briefed the committee that the new moon was born at 6:23am on Thursday, with an age of approximately 12 hours and 41 minutes by sunset—well below the minimum 20 hours typically required for visibility. The Pakistan Meteorological Department also indicated that cloudy weather in Islamabad and other parts of the country further reduced the chances of sighting .
Meanwhile, Malaysian media confirmed that the Shawwal moon was not sighted in the country, with Eid to be observed on Saturday . The Malaysian moon sighting process at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre drew public interest, with citizens witnessing the crescent moon observation firsthand rather than waiting for television announcements . Malaysia combines both rukyah (observation) and hisab (calculation) methods to determine the beginning of Hijri calendar months, reflecting a balance between adherence to syariah requirements and astronomical science .
Similarly, the Bangladesh National Moon Sighting Committee, chaired by Religious Affairs Minister Shah Moffazzal Hossain, announced that the Shawwal moon was not sighted anywhere in the country, and Eidul Fitr will also be celebrated on Saturday . The meeting was held at the Islamic Foundation in Baitul Mukarram, where officials confirmed that Ramadan will complete 30 days . Authorities have finalized preparations for Eid congregations across the country, with the main prayer to be held at the National Eidgah ground adjacent to the High Court at 8:30am .
Pakistan’s announcement brings it in line with several countries in the region that confirmed Eid on Saturday, while Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and other Gulf states will observe Eid on Friday . Afghanistan marked Eidul Fitr on Thursday after its authorities accepted testimonies of moon sighting from multiple provinces, highlighting differing practices in moon sighting across the region .
