ISLAMABAD: The Cen­tral Ruet-i-Hilal Committee announced on Friday that it had received credible reports about sighting of the Shawwal crescent from Sindh and Balochistan and therefore Eidul Fitr would be celebrated in the country on Saturday.

Reports about sighting of the moon had been received from Shahpur Chakro, Sang­har, Badin and Jacobabad, all in Sindh, and Qila Abdullah and Qila Saifullah, both in Balochistan, said the committee. Such reports had been received from other towns and cities as well.

But people in many cities and towns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the tribal areas offered Eid prayers on Friday.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif offered Eid prayers on Friday in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, the federal and provincial governments have finalised plans to protect public places, mosques, Eidgahs and other important buildings. Thousands of poli­cemen have been deployed in cities and towns across the country to patrol the main roads and markets in order to keep terrorists at bay.

The services of Rangers have also been acquired by the provincial governments, particularly in Sindh, to provide security in sensitive areas.

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play