Ramadan 2023 in Pakistan announced as moon-sighting committee confirms date

Moon-sighting officials in Pakistan have now announced a confirmed date for Ramadan 2023. The holy month will start on Thursday, March 23.

UK astronomers calculated in advance that the moon might be seen in Pakistan on March 21 as long as conditions were perfect. The Pakistan Meteorological Department also said there was a "strong possibility" of seeing the crescent in the evening skies.

The country's moon-sighting officials said the crescent moon was verified to have been sighted at 7.28pm local time in Karachi, bringing the current month of Shaban to an end. The announcement was made by the chairman of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee at a press conference in Peshawar.

The moon was not sighted in Peshawar itself, because of cloudy skies, but committee chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad said there had been numerous reports of sightings from elsewhere in Pakistan. Astronomer Dr Shahid Qureshi told local media outlets the faint crescent of the newborn moon would be easily seen with binoculars but difficult to spot with the naked eye. The moon was on the horizon for 47 minutes before setting at 7.30pm.

India and Bangladesh did not sight the moon and have announced Friday, March 24, as the first full day of Ramadan fasting. Most other nations will start Ramadan the day before, Thursday, March 23.

Scholars look for the moon on the 29th day of the existing month. If it's seen, that month ends and the next month begins. If there is no sighting, then the month goes on for one more day.

Mosques are now publishing their prayer and meal timetables for Ramadan. A pre-dawn meal called suhoor or sehri is consumed before fasting begins. Each day ends with a meal called iftar to break the fast, followed by night-time prayers.