The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted that Muharram-ul-Haram 1448 AH is likely to begin on June 17, as there is little chance of the new moon being sighted on June 15. The forecast was shared in an official advisory issued ahead of the crescent sighting.
According to the Met Office, the interval between the birth of the moon and sunset on June 15 will be too short to allow the crescent to become visible. The advisory stated that the new moon is expected to be born at 7:54 a.m. on June 15, but the age of the moon at sunset on 29 Zil Hajj will not be sufficient for sighting.
The department added that although weather conditions are expected to remain generally clear in many parts of Pakistan, the crescent is still unlikely to be observed because of the limited visibility window. Astronomical conditions, rather than cloud cover, are expected to be the main reason for the anticipated non-sighting.
The PMD also released expected moonset timings for different regions of the country. According to the advisory, the moon is expected to set at 7:59 p.m. in Punjab, 8:55 p.m. in Sindh, 8:23 p.m. in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 8:34 p.m. in Balochistan. In Gilgit-Baltistan, the moon is likely to set at 8:00 p.m., while in Azad Jammu and Kashmir it is expected to remain above the horizon until 8:07 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee has convened a meeting in Lahore on June 15 to review moon sighting reports from across the country. Religious scholars, meteorological experts, and relevant officials will participate in the session before making an official announcement.
While the PMD’s forecast suggests that Muharram is likely to begin on June 17, the final decision regarding the start of the new Islamic year will rest with the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee after evaluating eyewitness testimonies and evidence received from different regions of Pakistan.
