Pakistan is eagerly awaiting the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee’s decision on the sighting of the Zilhaj moon, which will officially determine the date of Eid ul Adha 2026. The country is holding its breath as meetings have been convened across major cities, while scientific forecasts from SUPARCO suggest that conditions are favorable for the moon’s visibility on Sunday evening.
The central meeting has been called by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and will be held at the Meteorological Department office in Karachi. The session will be chaired by Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, Chairman of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee. At the same time, zonal committee meetings will also take place simultaneously in Lahore, Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar, where regional witnesses and observations will be gathered before a final nationwide announcement is made.
When Will Eid ul Adha 2026 Fall?
Today’s moon sighting will decide everything. If the Zilhaj moon is sighted on Sunday, May 17, Eid ul Adha will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 27. If the moon is not sighted today, Eid will fall on Thursday, May 28.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has already issued a formal notification confirming the nationwide coordination of the moon sighting process.
What Does SUPARCO Say?
Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission has issued detailed astronomical predictions for the new moon. According to SUPARCO, the new moon of Zilhaj 1447 Hijri is expected to be born on May 17, 2026 at 1:01 AM Pakistan Standard Time.
By sunset on the same day, the moon’s age will be approximately 18 hours and 30 minutes — a key factor when assessing visibility. SUPARCO further noted that in Pakistan’s coastal regions, there will be an estimated 60-minute gap between sunset and moonset, which significantly increases the chances of the moon being spotted under clear skies.
The space agency assessed that conditions are favorable for moon sighting on the evening of May 17, provided the skies remain clear and visibility near the horizon is adequate. SUPARCO also projected that the 1st of Zilhaj 1447 Hijri is likely to begin on Monday, May 18, 2026 — marking the official start of the Islamic month that leads up to Eid ul Adha.
However, SUPARCO emphasized that despite favorable scientific conditions, the final and authoritative decision rests entirely with the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, which evaluates verified testimonies from witnesses across the country before making the official announcement.
