The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SPARCO) has forecasted the sighting of the Ramadan moon for the year 2025.
According to a SPARCO spokesperson, the new moon is expected to occur on February 28, 2025, at 5:45 PM (PST).
However, the visibility of the crescent will be challenging due to its low altitude (5 degrees), young age (12 hours), and close proximity to the sun (7 degrees) at sunset.
“Due to these factors, the crescent will not be visible to the naked eye on February 28,” the spokesperson stated.
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Given the expected difficulty in sighting the moon, SPARCO predicts Ramadan will start on March 2 in Pakistan, while in Saudi Arabia, it could begin on March 1, 2025.
Similarly, the Shawwal moon is anticipated on March 30, indicating Eid al-Fitr may fall on March 31, 2025.
The final decision on the moon sighting will be made by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, which will convene in Peshawar on February 28.
The meeting will include representatives from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Pakistan Meteorological Department, and SPARCO, along with zonal members from Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and Quetta.
