The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is meeting in Lahore to sight the Muharram 1448 Hijri moon. The meeting is significant as it determines the start of the Islamic month across Pakistan. Religious observers, government institutions, and the general public are directly affected.
The session is being held at the Badshahi Mosque under the chairmanship of Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad. Moreover, members of zonal committees and Pakistan Meteorological Department officials are also participating. Testimonies regarding moon sighting are being collected from across the country.
In addition, the final decision will be announced by the committee chairman after reviewing all reports. Authorities are considering both ground observations and technical data. As a result, the official start of Muharram will be confirmed after verification.
The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meet in #Lahore today to sight the crescent of Muharram-ul-Haram 1448 Hijri#RadioPakistan #News https://t.co/PqZomxuglO pic.twitter.com/lwiuezbfM5
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) June 15, 2026
Furthermore, the Pakistan Meteorological Department said the moon was born earlier in the day. However, it noted that its age at sunset remained too low for visibility. Therefore, chances of sighting the crescent were considered minimal.
Meanwhile, astronomical experts had already predicted that Muharram is likely to begin on June 17. They explained that the moon’s age and visibility window were not sufficient for sighting. The final announcement will be made later in the evening after testimonies are reviewed.