The Muharram moon was not sighted in Pakistan on Monday. As a result, 1st Muharram 1448 AH will fall on Wednesday, June 17, Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad announced.
The central moon-sighting meeting was held at Iqbal Hall, Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Punjab. Provincial and zonal committee meetings also took place across the country.
Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad said the committee received no credible testimony confirming the crescent sighting.
The announcement means the new Islamic year will begin on Wednesday, June 17.
The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission had earlier predicted that the Muharram-ul-Haram moon was unlikely to be sighted on June 15.
SUPARCO said the new moon was born at 7:54 am on June 15. At sunset, the moon’s age was expected to be about 11 hours and 50 minutes. This, the agency said, was generally insufficient for naked-eye visibility.
Read: Muharram Moon Sighting Meeting Set For June 15 In Lahore
The agency also said the interval between sunset and moonset in Pakistan’s coastal areas was expected to be around 40 minutes.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department had indicated clear or partly cloudy weather across most parts of the country for the evening of June 15.
With Muharram beginning on June 17, Ashura, observed on 10th Muharram, is expected to fall on Friday, June 26.
