The Ramazan moon is likely to be sighted on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and weather conditions are expected to remain favorable in most parts of Pakistan, the meteorological office said on Wednesday.
According to the Climatic Data Processing Center of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), “based on astronomical parameters, there is a good chance of sighting the Ramazan new moon at 1447 AH on the evening of February 18, 2026.” This means that there are chances that the Ramazan moon will be sighted on Shaban 29, 1447 AH.
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The birth of the Ramazan moon will take place on February 17 at 5:01 p.m. In most parts of the country, the weather on February 18 is expected to remain partly cloudy or clear, increasing the chances of moon sightings.
According to PMD, the latest moon sighting time will be 6:58 pm in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 7:47 pm in Balochistan, 7:24 pm in Sindh, 7:13 pm in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 7:08 pm in Punjab and 6:53 pm in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Earlier on January 5, it was predicted that Ramadan would likely begin on February 19, while Eidul Fitr could be observed on March 21. Ruet-e-Hilal Research Council Secretary General Khalid Ijaz Mufti had said that the crescent marking the beginning of Ramadan was expected to be sighted on February 18. “Based on the moonrise and visibility parameters, the first of Ramadan is likely to fall on February 19,” he said, adding that the estimates are derived from astronomical calculations.
However, he emphasized that the forecast should not be considered definitive, noting that the Ruet-e-Hilal Central Committee is the only one that has the authority to announce the beginning of the Islamic months after the testimony of Moon sightings.
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On January 18, the Ruet-e-Hilal Research Council said that the Shaban crescent will not be sighted in Pakistan on the night of January 19, which means that the Islamic month of Shaban-ul-Muazzam 1447 AH will begin from January 21.
The Holy Month of Ramazan has great spiritual significance for Muslims around the world. It is observed as a period of fasting, prayer and reflection. From sunrise to sunset, participants abstain from food and drink to practice self-discipline and focus on spiritual growth. It is also a time to increase charity and community, which concludes with the celebration of Eidul Fitr.
