Who decides when Ramadan and Eid start in Pakistan?

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee. Its Chairman announces whether the crescent was sighted, based on reports from the zonal and district committees (Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony).

Why can Pakistan’s Hijri date differ from Saudi Arabia’s?

The Umm al-Qura calendar is calculated in advance, while a month in Pakistan begins on a sighting in Pakistan, so the two can be a day apart.

What does “expected” mean in Sukoon?

That the Ruet-e-Hilal announcement for that month has not been recorded yet, so the date is an estimate. It changes to “confirmed” once the announcement is recorded.

How is the Hijri date decided in Pakistan?

In Pakistan, each new Hijri (Islamic) month begins on the announcement of the Chairman of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, who decides on the evening of the 29th whether the new crescent was seen, based on reports from the zonal and district Ruet-e-Hilal committees.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony announces these meetings in advance. Members of the Central Committee sit with the zonal and district committees at their headquarters, and the public can report a sighting to the officials named in the ministry’s press release.

Because the decision rests on a sighting in Pakistan, Pakistan’s Hijri date can be a day apart from Saudi Arabia’s Umm al-Qura calendar and from other countries.

How Sukoon shows the Hijri date

Sukoon starts from the Umm al-Qura calendar (built into your browser) and shifts it by the number of days Pakistan differs, which we record after each Ruet-e-Hilal announcement. Until the announcement for a month is recorded, Pakistani dates are labelled “expected”; after it, “confirmed”.

So no date is shown as certain before the committee has decided. Ramadan and Eid dates in Sukoon follow the same rule. Sukoon is not affiliated with the committee or the ministry; their announcement is what counts.

On Sukoon

Questions

Who decides when Ramadan and Eid start in Pakistan?: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee. Its Chairman announces whether the crescent was sighted, based on reports from the zonal and district committees (Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony).
Why can Pakistan’s Hijri date differ from Saudi Arabia’s?: The Umm al-Qura calendar is calculated in advance, while a month in Pakistan begins on a sighting in Pakistan, so the two can be a day apart.
What does “expected” mean in Sukoon?: That the Ruet-e-Hilal announcement for that month has not been recorded yet, so the date is an estimate. It changes to “confirmed” once the announcement is recorded.

Sources

Last checked: 26 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Write to hello@danixsoft.com