ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s central moon sighting committee will meet today, Friday, to sight the crescent for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Pakistani state media reported.
Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, wherein Muslims abstain from food and drink from sunrise till sunset for a month.
This is followed by the sighting of the new moon and is marked by Eid Al-Fitr, a religious holiday and celebration that is observed by Muslims across the world.
“A meeting of Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee will be held in Peshawar on Friday for the sighting of the Moon of Ramadan ul Mubarak,” the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad will preside over the meeting, according to the report.
“The Zonal Ruet-e-Hilal Committees will also meet separately at their respective headquarters,” it read.
Pakistan’s national space agency has forecast that the Ramadan moon will be invisible to the naked eye on Feb. 28, which means that the South Asian country will likely mark the beginning of the holy month from Mar. 2.
The crescent will be difficult to sight on Friday due to its low altitude and distance, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) was quoted as saying by the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency. The angular distance between the sun and the moon will be 7 degrees on Feb. 28, making the crescent “invisible to the naked eye” that day, it added.
But in Pakistan, the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee is tasked with sighting the moon for new Islamic months. Dates for Ramadan and Eid festivals are confirmed by the committee through visual observations and based on testimonies received of the crescent being sighted from several parts of the country.
Pakistan moon sighting committee to meet today to sight Ramadan crescent
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Pakistan moon sighting committee to meet today to sight Ramadan crescent
- Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, wherein Muslims abstain from food and drink from sunrise till sunset
- This is followed by the sighting of the new moon and is marked by Eid Al-Fitr, a religious holiday observed by Muslims worldwide
Pakistani, Chinese firms sign 79 MoUs worth $4.5 billion at Islamabad agriculture summit — minister
- The summit saw participation from over 300 Pakistani, Chinese firms focusing on modern agricultural techniques and solutions
- Food security minister says these investments will modernize Pakistan’s agricultural value chains and enhance productivity
KARACHI: The Pakistan–China Agriculture Investment Conference in Islamabad has resulted in 79 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between Pakistani and Chinese companies with an approximate investment value of $4.5 billion, Pakistani Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain said on Tuesday, signaling confidence of Chinese investors in Pakistan’s agriculture and food sectors.
At least 119 Chinese companies and over 191 Pakistani firms participated in the event held on Monday, focusing on fertilizers, seed varieties, machinery, precision farming and smart irrigation systems, according to the organizers.
The conference was billed by Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research as a platform for deepening bilateral agricultural ties and supporting broader economic engagement between the two countries.
Hussain said the scale and depth of investment commitments at the conference reflected a decisive shift from dialogue to on-ground, investment-led collaboration between the two countries.
“The conference was specifically structured to deliver tangible outcomes through direct B2B (business to business) matchmaking, targeted sectoral engagement and project-based investment facilitation, rather than conventional discussions,” he was quoted as saying by his ministry.
Pakistan and China have been expanding cooperation in agriculture under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework, with a focus on mechanization, high-yield seeds, livestock development and value-added food processing. Officials say stronger agricultural ties could help Pakistan boost exports, ensure food security and create jobs, while offering Chinese companies access to a large farming market and new investment opportunities.
Pakistan’s exports to China reached approximately $2.38 billion in Fiscal Year 2024–25 that ended in June, while imports stood at $16.3 billion, reflecting growing demand on both sides despite global economic headwinds, according to the minister.
The food security ministry undertook extensive preparatory work prior to the conference, including structured engagements with Pakistani industry bodies and Chinese enterprises, to align investment proposals with market demand, technology requirements and national priorities, according to Hussain.
As a result, investment agreements were concluded across ten high-impact agricultural and allied sub-sectors, including food processing and value addition, agri-technology, seeds and plant protection, livestock and dairy, meat and poultry, fruits and vegetables, fisheries and aquaculture, animal feed, post-harvest infrastructure, and agricultural inputs.
“These investments will modernize Pakistan’s agricultural value chains, introduce advanced production and processing technologies, and significantly enhance productivity,” the minister said.
“The inflow of capital and technology is expected to generate large-scale employment, particularly in rural areas, strengthen farm-to-market linkages, and reduce post-harvest losses, thereby improving farmer incomes and rural livelihoods.”
