Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has officially given its forecast on the Shawwal sighting crescent and Eid ul Fitr could be celebrated on March 21 in the country.
Anticipated Shawwal Moon Sighting Date
The Met Office indicates that there are high chances that the Shawwal moon will not be observed on March19. As an alternative, it is highly probable that the crescent will be seen the next evening, March 20.
PMD’s Accurate Track Record
This new forecast has been preceded by the previous prediction by the PMD, which was quite accurate about the sighting of the Ramadan moon. The department had rightly predicted the likelihood of the visibility of the crescent in some areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) including Peshawar before the beginning of the holy month, basing its forecast on the weather department’s estimates of clear skies in the plains of the province.
The moon of Ramadan was therefore spotted on the day when it was predicted (29th of Shaban or February 18). On the 19th February, Pakistan further noted its first fast after the central moon sighting committee announced the same.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued an astronomical forecast suggesting Eid ul Fitr is more likely to fall a day later this year, as…
— ProPakistani (@ProPakistaniPK) February 24, 2026
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Learning the Lunar Calendar Shifts
The Islamic months take a duration of 29 or 30 days, and the beginning and the end of the month is calculated by the physical observation of the crescent moon. Being the ninth month of the 12 month Islamic calendar, Ramadan is not the same Gregorian date every year. The Islamic calendar, which uses the moon as its basis, is about 10 days less than the Gregorian year, thus Ramadan moves with the Gregorian year continuously over the Gregorian calendar.
1. When is Eid ul Fitr expected to be celebrated in Pakistan this year?
According to the PMD forecast, Eid ul Fitr is expected to fall on Saturday, March 21.
2. Will Ramadan last for 29 or 30 days this year?
The Met Office predicts that the moon will not be sighted on March 19, meaning Ramadan is highly likely to last for 30 days this year.
3. Who makes the final announcement for Eid ul Fitr?
While the PMD provides meteorological forecasts, the final official announcement for Eid ul Fitr is subject to confirmation by the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (RHC) after the moon is sighted.
