Ruet-e-Hilal to hold Muharram moon sighting meeting today in Quetta

The central moon sighting body will meet today (Tuesday) in Quetta for the sighting of Muharram crescent — the beginning of new Islamic calendar.

Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad will chair the meeting in the Balochistan’s capital.

The meetings of zonal and district moon sighting committees will also be held at their respective Headquarters at the same time.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) citing astronomical parameters said there are slim chances of sighting the Muharram moon on July 18 (Tuesday), which will mark the beginning of the new Islamic year, 1445 AH.

As per the Met Department, the new moon will be born on the crossing conjunction point at 11:32pm on July 17 (Monday). Therefore, the crescent will be sighted the next day.

"According to astronomical parameters, there is Slight Chance of sighting the new moon of Muharram, 1445 AH on the evening of 18-07-2023 i.e. on 29th of Zilhaj, 1444 AH," the PMD said in a notification issued in this regard.

The Met Department also cited the climate record, according to which the weather is expected to be partly cloudy or cloudy in most parts of the country.