Shawwal moon not sighted, Pakistan to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr tomorrow

A member of Pakistan's moon-sighting committee uses a telescope to observe the appearance of the Ramadan Moon in Karachi on March 22, 2023. (AFP/File)
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Updated 21 April 2023
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Shawwal moon not sighted, Pakistan to celebrate Eid Al-Fitr tomorrow

  • Pakistan’s moon sighting committee says testimonies on sighting of Shawwal moon not received from any parts of Pakistan
  • Pakistan’s central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee sights the moon, announces beginning of holy months of Ramadan and Muharram

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s central moon sighting committee announced the country would celebrate Eid Al-Fitr on Saturday, April 22, as the Shawwal moon marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan had not been sighted today, Thursday.

The beginning of the ninth and holiest month in the Muslim calendar, Ramadan, as well as the Eid holidays and the mourning month of Muharram, are determined by the sighting of the new moon in Pakistan, led by the moon-sighting committee.

In a press conference, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, chief of the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (moon sighting committee) said the weather was mostly clear in most areas of the country on Thursday, but was also cloudy in some areas.

“We did not receive any testimonies of the sighting of the moon for the month of Shawwal,” Azad told reporters.

“Hence, it was decided with consensus that the first of Shawwal shall be on Saturday, April 22, and God willing, will be the day of Eid Al-Fitr.” 

Muslims celebrate the three-day festival of Eid-Al-Fitr to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan during which it is obligatory to fast from dawn till sunset for an entire month.


Pak-Qatar becomes Pakistan’s first dedicated family takaful operator to list on PSX

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Pak-Qatar becomes Pakistan’s first dedicated family takaful operator to list on PSX

  • Pak-Qatar Family Takaful Limited’s initial public offering raises $3.2 million, says company
  • Company says remains committed to strengthening Pakistan’s Islamic financial eco-system

KARACHI: The Pak-Qatar Family Takaful Limited (PQFTL) became the first dedicated family Takaful operator to be listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), the company announced on Thursday, saying the development would strengthen the ecosystem for Islamic financial products and services in the stock market. 

PQFTL is the country’s first and largest dedicated shariah-compliant family risk-protection provider, holding 44 percent of the total family takaful market and more than 90 percent of the fully dedicated segment, with a nationwide presence of 73 branches and 1,971 field representatives.

The company announced in a statement last month it would offer 50 million shares, starting at a floor price of Rs14 per share ($0.05), with a ceiling of Rs21 per share ($0.07). Of the total issue, 37.5 million shares will be allocated to institutional investors, while 12.5 million shares will be offered to the general public.

In its latest statement, the PQTFL said the book building and public subscription portions of its Initial Public Offering (IPO) were oversubscribed by 3.2 times and 3.8 times, respectively, reflecting strong investor confidence in the company and Pakistan’s Islamic financial ecosystem.

“The IPO raised Rs901 million [$3.2 million], achieving a 29 percent premium, reflecting strong investor interest and positive market perception,” the statement said. 

“This historic milestone and response from investors underscore PQFTL’s exceptional financial resilience, strategic foresight, and unwavering commitment to Shariah-compliant excellence,” it added. 

The company said over 8,200 investors participated in the IPO, making it one of the highest investor turnouts in Pakistan’s insurance and Takaful sector. 

“The offering attracted a diverse mix of institutional investors, insurance companies, family offices, corporate investors, and a significant number of individual investors,” it said. 

Muhammad Kamran Saleem, a member of the board of directors of the PQFTL, said the company’s listing on the stock exchange was a “historic achievement.”

“The overwhelming response from investors demonstrates deep trust in our business fundamentals, Shariah governance standards and strategic vision,” he said. 

“We are grateful to Allah Almighty for this historic achievement and we remain committed to strengthening the Islamic financial eco-system and long-term sustainable value creation to all our stakeholders.”

PQFTL said the IPO proceeds will help it in meeting regulatory capital requirements, expand digital distribution channels, enhance product innovation and drive customer-centric growth initiatives.