The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee announced on Wednesday that the Ramazan moon was sighted, and the holy month would begin in Pakistan on Thursday (February 19).

The announcement was made by committee chairman, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, as it met in Peshawar for the moon sighting.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Azad said that the skies were clear in some areas and cloudy in others.

He said that testimonies were received from several parts of the country, including Quetta, Islamabad, Waziristan, Dir, Karachi, Buner, Mardan and Tando Allahyar.

“Therefore, it was decided with consensus that the first day of Ramazan would be on Thursday,” he said.

Separately, according to the Daily Star, the crescent moon was sighted in Bangladesh, while The Hindu reported that it was also spotted in India.

Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan observed their first day of fasting on Wednesday after the crescent moon was sighted on Tuesday night.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended “heartfelt” greetings to the nation, as well as Muslims around the world, on the beginning of Ramazan, state-run APP reported.

He said the holy month was a blessing from God and gave Muslims an opportunity to “renew the values of devotion and humility in worship, righteousness and piety and spiritual purification”.

“Fasting is not merely the observance of a religious obligation; rather, it is practical training in patience, discipline and a sense of responsibility in our daily lives,” the PM said.

He added that the government had launched a Ramazan Package to “provide maximum possible support to the vulnerable groups”.

“Under this initiative, financial assistance will be provided to deserving individuals in a dignified manner through digital wallets, ensuring that every household,” he said.

President Asif Ali Zardari also extended greetings to the nation and the Muslim Ummah, describing the sacred month as a period of mercy, forgiveness, and salvation, according to APP.

“At a time when Pakistan faces various social and economic challenges, Ramazan brings a message of hope, patience, and collective solidarity,” the report quoted the president as saying.

He expressed the resolve that “the nation should rise above personal interests and give priority to national and collective welfare”.

In a post on X, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari congratulated the Muslim Ummah on the month of Ramazan.

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also extended felicitations to the people of Pakistan and the Muslim Ummah on the commencement of the holy month.

He appealed to the public to “demonstrate patience, avoid hoarding and profiteering, and ensure the availability of essential commodities at reasonable prices”.

Earlier this month, based on the moon’s expected age, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) had predicted that the first day of Ramazan was “likely to fall” on February 19.

It is worth mentioning that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a Rs38 billion Ramazan Relief Package for 12.1 million deserving families across the four provinces as well as Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

“Every deserving family will receive Rs13,000 through a digital wallet or bank transfer, without discrimination based on party affiliation or point of view,” he said.