The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecasted the sighting of the Ramadan moon on March 11. The crescent is expected to emerge on March 10 at 2 PM, reaching an age of over 28 hours by March 11, increasing the likelihood of its visibility.
In terms of weather conditions, clear skies are anticipated in central and lower Sindh and Balochistan on March 11. However, the upper regions might experience unfavorable weather due to cloudy conditions caused by a western system.
Khalid Ejaz Mufti, the General Secretary of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee’s Research Council, also suggested that the first fast of Ramadan might be observed on March 12. He emphasized the significance of clear skies on the evening of March 11 for the crescent sighting, indicating a potential start of Ramadan on March 12, 2024.
Mufti noted that sighting the crescent on March 10 evening would not be possible in any Islamic country. The anticipated age of the moon at sunset on March 11, over 19 hours, meets the requirement for crescent sighting across all regions of Pakistan.
The time difference between sunset and moonset, ideally at least 40 minutes, is projected to be sufficient for crescent sighting in various cities across Pakistan. Thus, in areas with clear skies, the sighting of the crescent is expected to be feasible, raising hopes for Ramadan to commence on March 12.
