Pakistan to Celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr on Same Day as Saudi Arabia
The International Astronomical Astronomy Centre of Saudi Arabia just declared that Eid-ul-Fitr would begin one day later than predicted on Saturday, 22 April. According to the Centre, no Arab or Muslim country will be able to see the lunar crescent on Thursday (29 Ramadan), hence Eid will most likely be celebrated on Saturday, 22 April.
On Thursday, the Saudi Supreme Court asked residents around the Kingdom to report crescent sightings. The Eid holidays will begin in the Kingdom on Friday, April 21, which is already a weekend day.
The Pakistani government has already declared a five-day national holiday to honor Eid-ul-Fitr, which will begin on Friday, April 21, and finish on Tuesday, April 25.
The Ruet-e-Hilal Research Council (RHRC) announced earlier this month that Eid-ul-Fitr will be observed across the country on Saturday, 22 April, following the end of Ramadan’s 30-day fast.
The secretary-general of the council, Khalid Ijaz Mufti, disclosed that the committee will convene on Thursday, 20 April, to observe the Shawwal moon. Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Friday, 21 April, if the crescent is visible on Thursday evening. However, he noted that seeing the moon on the same evening was unlikely.
