Web Desk: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast that the Shawwal moon is unlikely to be sighted on March 19, indicating that Eid ul Fitr 2026 will likely fall on March 21 (Saturday) across Pakistan.
According to the department, there is a high chance that the Shawwal crescent will become visible on March 20, pending official confirmation by the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (RHC). If the moon is not sighted as predicted, Ramadan fasting this year will extend to 30 days.
Earlier, PMD had accurately forecast the Ramadan moon sighting, which marked the start of fasting on February 19, 2026, after the announcement by the central moon sighting committee. The department had also highlighted clear skies in the plains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Peshawar, while upper areas experienced partly cloudy conditions during the Shaban month.
Islamic months follow a lunar calendar, lasting 29 or 30 days, and the start of Eid depends on the actual sighting of the crescent moon, causing dates to shift each year on the Gregorian calendar.
