In a significant development, the Shawal moon was not sighted anywhere in Pakistan, including Peshawar and far-flung areas, leading to the first-time announcement of Eidul Fitr on the same day in all parts of the country in years. Moalana Abdul Khabir Azad, the chief cleric of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, announced the decision after consulting with the other committee members.
Previously, different north-western regions of Pakistan celebrated Eid on days different than the rest of the country, creating confusion and inconvenience for the people. However, this year’s announcement has brought much relief to the citizens who can now celebrate the festival on the same day across the country.
The decision was also welcomed by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government, which had been pushing for a unified Eid celebration for several years. Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai, the chief cleric at Peshawar’s historic Masjid Qasim Ali Khan, who had previously announced different Eid dates, also agreed with the decision, ensuring a collective Eid celebration across the nation.
