KARACHI: SUPARCO has predicted that the sighting of the Shawwal moon is not possible today, indicating that the holy month of Ramadan will complete 30 days this year.
According to SUPARCO sources, Eid-ul-Fitr is expected to fall on Saturday, March 21, 2026, as the new moon of Shawwal-ul-Mukarram is unlikely to be visible across Pakistan.
Astronomical data reveal that the moon was born at 6:23 am today, but its age at sunset will remain less than 13 hours in all parts of the country, making visibility extremely difficult.
Experts state that at least 14.5 hours of moon age is required for sighting through a telescope, while 22 to 24 hours are needed for visibility with the naked eye. A more reliable sighting generally occurs when the moon is 24 to 30 hours old.
Additionally, the time gap between sunset and moonset is considered crucial for visibility. Today, this difference will be around 26 minutes in Islamabad, 21 minutes in Lahore, 26 minutes in Karachi, and 30 minutes in Peshawar, which is below the minimum 40-minute requirement for a possible sighting.
Based on these astronomical calculations, experts have concluded that the Shawwal moon will not be visible today, and Eid-ul-Fitr will likely be observed on Saturday across the country.
