In shadow of coronavirus third wave, Ramadan starts in Pakistan today

ISLAMABAD: The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, the body that announces the lunar calendar in Pakistan, said on Tuesday the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan would begin in the country today, Wednesday, as the president urged citizens to follow coronavirus standard operating procedures.
The moon-sighting committee announced its decision after a meeting in the northwestern city of Peshawar on Tuesday evening.
Last year, the Pakistani government and Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, the newly appointed chairman of the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, agreed for the first time to work together and use scientific data to determine the sighting of the moon, which has for decades faced an annual controversy.
The beginning of the ninth and holiest month in the Muslim calendar, as well as the Eid holidays and the mourning month of Muharram, are determined by the sighting of the new moon in Pakistan, with the cleric-led Ruet-e-Hilal committee announcing when fasting should begin.
Pakistan’s science and technology minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain had already announced earlier this month that Ramadan would begin on April 14.
In a statement, Pakistani President Dr. Arif Alvi urged the public to follow coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs) during Ramadan.
“Fasting led to piety, which also meant that life should be led carefully, especially when the whole world was worried over the third wave of coronavirus pandemic,” the president said. “It was a national and religious duty to implement the precautionary measures.”
Earlier this month, Pakistan announced new health guidelines for Ramadan, including banning the entry of people older than 50 years and ado­lescents in mosques and shrines during the holy month. The Pakistan government has said mosques around the country would remain open during Ramadan with strict adherence to COVID-19 standard operating procedures.