Pakistan’s long-awaited Eid ul Fitr celebrations will take place on Saturday, March 21, 2026, after the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee officially confirmed that the Shawwal moon was not sighted anywhere across the country on the evening of Thursday, March 19.
Chairman of the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee, Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad, announced that the Shawwal moon was not sighted anywhere in the country, confirming that Eid al-Fitr will be observed on Saturday. The announcement was made during a press briefing in Islamabad following meetings of the central, zonal, and district Ruet-i-Hilal committees held across Pakistan.
He stated that weather conditions remained mostly cloudy in many regions, although some areas experienced clearer skies. However, no credible moon sighting reports were received from any part of the country. As a result, the first day of Shawwal will fall on Saturday, marking the end of Ramazan.
The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee’s zonal committee in Peshawar said it received multiple testimonies of crescent sightings, but these were not accepted as credible official reports. The moon’s age was only around 12 hours at the time of sighting, and meteorologists had already indicated that visibility was unlikely under such conditions.
Meanwhile, countries including Saudi Arabia and the UAE celebrated Eid on Friday, March 20. India and Indonesia also confirmed Eid on Saturday after no credible moon sightings were reported there either. Afghanistan observed Eid a day earlier based on local sightings.
Eid ul-Fitr is often called the Festival of Breaking the Fast as it marks the end of fasting during Ramadan. The festival is celebrated with prayers, feasts, charity, and gatherings with family and friends. It begins with special morning prayers, followed by acts of charity such as Zakat al-Fitr, ensuring that even the less fortunate can join in the celebrations.
Pakistan’s Ramadan 2026 was particularly emotional, with the ongoing conflict in the Middle East weighing heavily on the hearts of Muslims across the country. Despite the pain, families across Pakistan will welcome Eid al-Fitr on Saturday with prayers, joy, and gratitude.
