Pakistan and Arab Countries Expected to Celebrate Eid Together

The International Astronomy Centre has ruled out the possibility of sighting the Shawwal crescent on Saturday, March 29, across the Arab and Islamic world. Experts explain that the moon will set before the sun, and the conjunction will take place after sunset, making it impossible to observe through any means.

Due to this, countries that rely on physical moon sightings are expected to complete a full 30 days of Ramadan, with Eid-ul-Fitr likely to fall on Monday, March 31. However, in regions where the conjunction occurs before sunset, some countries may choose to mark Eid on Sunday, March 30, following their traditional criteria.

A partial solar eclipse is also expected on March 29 in parts of North Africa, including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Mauritania. Astronomers believe this further confirms that the crescent moon cannot be seen on that night.

Authorities have cautioned against unverified sighting reports, emphasizing that they would contradict established astronomical data.

Pakistan’s Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) has also forecasted that the Shawwal moon will be visible on March 30, indicating that Eid-ul-Fitr in Pakistan is likely to be observed on March 31, aligning with most Islamic nations.