Eid ul Fitr in Pakistan to be observed on Tuesday after Shawwal moon not sighted

• Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee meets at Ministry of Religious Affairs' office.
• Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad announces final decision.
• Met department had said no chances of Shawwal moon being spotted today.

ISLAMABAD: The moon for the month of Shawwal was not sighted in Pakistan today, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced Sunday. Subsequently, the country will celebrate the first day of Eid ul Fitr on Tuesday, May 3.

The main meeting of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee was held at the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony in Islamabad with Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad in the chair, while the zonal committees met in their respective areas to sight the Shawwal crescent.

The moon, however, could not be sighted anywhere in the country.

"It was decided through consensus that Eid will be observed on May 3 across the country,” said Maulana Azad in a press conference after the moon was not sighted.

At the time of the sighting, the age of the moon was 17 hours, and according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the age of the moon must be 19 hours in order to sight it.

The PMD had previously said that there were no chances of the Shawwal moon being sighted today due to unsuitable weather conditions.

Meanwhile, South Waziristan in Pakistan and Afghanistan are celebrating Eid today after sighting the Shawwal moon yesterday.

Additional input from APP