Moon sighted: Pakistan to celebrate Eid on October 16

KARACHI: The Zilhaj moon was sighted in major cities of Pakistan and Eidul Azha will be celebrated across the country on October 16, Express News reported on Sunday. Ruet-e-Hilal committee chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman presided over the session of the central committee in Karachi while sessions of Zonal Ruet-e-Hilal committee continued in other cities. The central committee makes the final decision on the basis of moon sighting testimonies from across the country and makes the final announcement of moon sighting. “The decision of the moon sighting will be taken after reaching a unanimous agreement with zonal committees,” said Rehman. Quetta was the first city in which the moon was sighted. For Lahore, it was expected that the moon would be visible at 6:33 PM. Officials from the meteorological department were present in the sessions convened to sight the moon. In the Islamic calendar, Eidul Azha falls on the 10th day of Zil Haj and lasts for three days. In the Gregorian calendar, the dates vary from year to year, drifting approximately 11 days earlier each year.