The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee said on Thursday that the Shawwal moon had not been sighted and Eidul Fitr would be celebrated on March 21 (tomorrow).
Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad made the announcement while addressing a press conference in Islamabad.
The press conference followed a meeting of the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee, and zonal and district committee meetings at their respective headquarters.
He said that the skies remained cloudy over most parts of Pakistan, while in some areas it was clear. He said that moon sighting testimonies had not been received from any part of the country.
The Ruet-i-Hilal Committee chairman said that the 1st of Shawwal would fall on Saturday.
It is worth noting that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will celebrate Eidul Fitr on Friday.
Last week, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) forecast that Eidul Fitr was expected to fall on March 21 (Saturday) as the chances of sighting the Shawwal moon on March 19 (Friday) were low.
Earlier, the Pakistan Meteorological Department also predicted that Ramazan was likely to last 30 days this year as the Shawwal moon was unlikely to be visible on March 19.
On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia announced that the first day of Eid ul Fitr will fall on March 20 (today) after the Shawwal moon was not sighted in the kingdom.
“The Supreme Court has decided that tomorrow, Thursday, is the completion of the 30th day of the month of Ramadan, and that Friday is the day of the Blessed Eid ul Fitr,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.