Pakistan sets may 17 meeting for Zil Hajj crescent observation

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will meet on May 17 (Sunday) for the sighting of the Zil Hajj 1447 Hijri moon, which corresponds to 29 Zil Qadah, according to the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

A spokesperson of the ministry stated that the meeting will take place at the Pakistan Meteorological Department office in Karachi and will be chaired by Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabeer Azad.

On the same evening zonal and district Ruet-e-Hilal committees will also convene at their respective headquarters to observe and report moon sighting findings.

The final decision regarding the sighting of the Zil Hajj crescent will be announced by the chairman of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee after receiving evidence and reports from across the country.

Earlier, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) issued its forecast regarding the expected visibility of the Zil Hajj moon.

According to SUPARCO the new moon of Zil Hajj 1447 Hijri is expected to be born on May 17, 2026 at 1:01 am. By sunset, the moon’s age will be around 18 hours and 30 minutes. In coastal regions of Pakistan, the interval between sunset and moonset is expected to be approximately 60 minutes.

Based on these astronomical indicators, conditions for sighting the Zil Hajj crescent on the evening of May 17 are considered favorable, provided that weather conditions remain clear and visibility near the horizon is sufficient.

SUPARCO further projected that the first day of Zil Hajj 1447 Hijri is likely to fall on May 18, 2026, marking the end of Zil Qadah. It also suggested that Eid-ul-Adha may be observed on May 27, while the final confirmation will be made by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee after official moon sighting verification.