Eid ul Fitr 2026 is likely to fall on March 21 in Pakistan after a 30-day Ramadan, and experts say the chances of seeing the Shawwal crescent on the night of March 19 are low.
“The new moon of Shawwal 1447 AH is expected to rise on March 19, 2026 at 06:23 PST,” Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) said on Wednesday.
“At the time of sunset on March 19, 2026, the age of the new moon will be approximately 12 hours and 41 minutes, with an estimated interval of 28 minutes between sunset and moonset along the coastal belt of Pakistan,” it added.
According to Suparco, based on these astronomical parameters, the chances of sighting the Shawwal crescent on the afternoon of March 19 were “low.”
Therefore, the first Shawwal is expected to fall on Saturday, March 21, marking the conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan.
However, Suparco said that Pakistan’s Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will take the final decision on the sighting of the crescent and the beginning of Eid ul Fitr across the country.
The Muslim world welcomes Eid ul Fitr with deep religious devotion, after more than a billion believers fast for a month to practice patience, self-discipline and generosity.
Pakistan began the first fast of Ramadan 2026 on February 19, following the announcement of the sighting of the crescent moon by Ruet-e-Hilal Central Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabeer Azad.
The Islamic months last 29 or 30 days, and their beginning and end are determined by the appearance of the crescent moon, so Ramadan does not fall on the same Gregorian date every year.
As the ninth month of the 12-month Islamic calendar, which is approximately 10 days shorter than the Gregorian year due to its lunar base, Ramadan changes annually throughout the Gregorian calendar.
