Nation celebrates Eidul Fitr today

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee on Tuesday announced that Eidul Fitr would fall on Monday (March 31) as the Shawwal moon was sighted in Pakistan.

The announcement came after a meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee at the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony in Islamabad, while meetings of zonal and district Ruet-e-Hilal committees were held at their respective headquarters concurrently.

The meeting was chaired by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, and attended by the members of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, as well as officials from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), Suparco, and the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Maulana Azad said testimonies of moon sightings were received from majority of the country, hence, Eid would be celebrated tomorrow (Monday). He said the sky was generally clear in most regions, enabling the moon to be easily sighted. He confirmed receiving credible moon-sighting testimonies from multiple locations, including Lahore, Bahawalpur, Islamabad, Sheikhupura, Kasur, and other areas.

After thorough verification and consensus, Maulana Azad said the committee has declared that the first of Shawwal-ul-Mukarram.

The announcement was met with joy and celebration across the country as people prepared to observe the festival, which marks the culmination of a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and several other countries are celebrating Eidul Fitr on Sunday, according to Arab media reports.

Oman has officially announced that the Shawwal moon was not sighted, and Eidul Fitr will be celebrated on Monday. Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Australia confirmed the Eid date based on astronomical data and local moon sighting efforts.

In Bangladesh, the National Moon Sighting Committee stated that the crescent moon was not sighted, making Sunday the 30th day of Ramazan. Indonesia also declared Monday as the first day of Eid after failing to observe the Shawwal crescent.

In India, where Muslims have completed 28 days of fasting, the Shawwal moon is expected to be sighted today. If confirmed, Eidul Fitr will be celebrated on Monday.

Malaysia’s International Astronomy Centre (IAC) confirmed that the crescent will be visible to the naked eye today. Hence, the country will celebrate Eid on Monday.

The Australian Fatwa Council declared Eidul Fitr on March 31 as well, noting that the Shawwal moon will be born after sunset on Saturday in both eastern and western parts of the country.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday extended heartfelt Eidul Fitr greetings to the Pakistani nation emphasizing themes of unity solidarity and compassion.

In separate messages, President Zardari highlighted Eidul Fitr’s teachings of unity and brotherhood urging citizens to support one another in steering Pakistan toward progress. He also offered prayers for the freedom of people in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sharif addressed the threats facing Pakistan from internal and external forces stressing the importance of avoiding extremism and sectarianism to maintain national integrity.

He called for vigilance against conspiracies and praised the armed forces for their sacrifices in combating terrorism. The prime minister expressed solidarity with families of martyrs and prayed for victims of the Jaffar Express train incident. He urged citizens to remember the struggles of Palestinians and those in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir reaffirming Pakistan’s support for their freedom and urging global intervention against human rights violations.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has warmly congratulated the Muslim Ummah on the sighting of the Shawwal moon, making the end of Ramazan and the joyous arrival of Eidul Fitr. In her message, the CM prayed for the new month to bring peace, faith, and security for everyone. “I pray that Allah Almighty blesses us with a month filled with safety, faith, and the prosperity of Islam,” she said.

The CM prayed for peace and security throughout the entire month of Shawwal. “I pray that every day and night of Shawwal is filled with peace and safety,” she emphasized.

Expressing solidarity with oppressed communities, Maryam Nawaz also remembered the plight of Palestinians and Kashmiris in her prayers.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has extended his heartfelt greetings on the occasion of Eidul Fitr to the people of Pakistan in particular and Muslims across the world in general. “Eid is a time of joy, gratitude, and festivity—a celebration of faith, unity, and the countless blessings of Almighty Allah. It is an occasion that reminds us of the values of compassion, togetherness, and the importance of standing with those in need,” he said in a statement on Eidul Fitr.

Bilawal emphasised that as we celebrate this auspicious day, we must remember those struggling against poverty, the families affected by terrorism, and those enduring economic hardships. He particularly expressed solidarity with the oppressed brothers and sisters of Kashmir and Palestine, who continue to face injustice, occupation, and violence.

“The PPP remains steadfast in its commitment to combating extremism and fostering an egalitarian, progressive, and prosperous Pakistan—the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.”