The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is set to convene in Peshawar tomorrow, Wednesday, February 18, 2026, to observe the crescent for Ramazan-ul-Mubarak 1447 Hijri. The meeting will be presided over by Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad.
Simultaneously, zonal and district committees will meet at their respective headquarters in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, and Quetta to gather testimonies from across the country.
Scientific Forecasts & Probability
Data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and SUPARCO suggest a high likelihood that the moon will be sighted tomorrow evening.
| Metric | Scientific Prediction | Impact |
| Moon Birth | February 17, 2026 (5:01 PM PKT) | The moon will be over 25 hours old by sunset on Feb 18. |
| Visibility Chance | “Fair to Strong” | Visibility is typically high once the moon age exceeds 19 hours. |
| Duration | 59 Minutes | Time between sunset and moonset (ideal for sighting). |
| Weather Forecast | Partly Cloudy / Fair | Generally clear skies in most areas favor a successful sighting. |
Expected Start of Ramazan
- If sighted tomorrow (Feb 18): The first of Ramazan will be on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
- If NOT sighted: Shaban will complete 30 days, and Ramazan will begin on Friday, February 20, 2026.
Note: There is a strong possibility that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will observe the start of Ramazan on the same day this year, promoting a unified beginning across the Muslim world.
A meeting to sight the moon of Ramazan will be held in Saudi Arabia today.
According to the Saudi Astronomical Society, there is a likelihood that the first fast will be observed on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, in Pakistan, the meeting of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee to sight the… pic.twitter.com/uE3J2ph8XN— Tribal News Network (@TNNEnglish) February 17, 2026
Preparation Checklist for Citizens
- Taraweeh Prayers: If the moon is sighted tomorrow, the first Taraweeh prayers will be held across mosques on Wednesday night.
- Office/School Timings: Federal and provincial governments are expected to notify reduced working hours for the holy month by tomorrow evening.
- Charity: Many organizations have already launched “Ramadan Donation” drives, aligning with the “Year of Youth” initiatives.
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