Eid 2026 in Pakistan; PMD Predicts Likely Date for Eid ul Fitr

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted that the Shawwal moon is unlikely to be sighted on the 29th of Ramadan, making Eid ul Fitr 2026 likely to fall a day later in Pakistan.

According to PMD officials, the new moon will be born at 6:23 AM on March 19, 2026. By sunset that day, the moon’s age will be only 12 to 13 hours, which is considered too young for clear visibility. Due to this short duration, the department has stated that the chances of sighting the Shawwal crescent on March 19 are highly unlikely.

If the moon is not sighted on the 29th of Ramadan, the holy month will complete 30 days, and Eid ul Fitr is expected to be observed on March 21, 2026, subject to official confirmation.

Earlier, the Ramadan 1447 AH moon was sighted on February 18 after the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee received and verified around 40 testimonies from various cities, including Swabi, Dir, Mohmand, Batgram, Chaman, and Karachi.

The moon sighting meeting was chaired by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad at the Auqaf Department building in Peshawar. Zonal and district Ruet-i-Hilal Committee meetings were also held simultaneously in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Quetta.

Earlier, SUPARCO had predicted that the Ramadan moon was likely to be visible on February 18, as astronomical conditions were highly favorable. However, the official announcement of Ramadan and Eid dates in Pakistan is made solely by the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee after verifying eyewitness testimonies.

The final decision regarding Eid ul Fitr 2026 will be announced by the Ruet-i-Hilal Committee following moon sighting observations across the country.