ISLAMABAD: The crescent for the month of Shawwal was sighted in Pakistan on Sunday and consequently, Eid Al-Fitr will be celebrated on Monday, March 31, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced.
The three-day Eid Al-Fitr festival starts on the first day of the month of Shawwal in the Islamic lunar calendar. The festival marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, the country’s apex moon-sighting body, met in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad for the sighting of the Shawwal crescent.
“[We] received testimonies of the sighting of the Shawwal moon from various areas of Pakistan today, which include Lahore, Bahawalpur, Islamabad, Sheikhupura, Kasur and other areas,” Maulana Azad announced at a press conference.
“Hence, it was decided with consensus that the first of Shawwal will be on March 31, Monday.”
Pakistan’s government this week announced a three-day holiday from Mar. 31 till Apr. 2 on account of the Muslim festival of Eid Al-Fitr.
The Shawwal moon was sighted in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, marking the end of the month of Ramadan. Eid Al-Fitr is being celebrated in the Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and other Middle Eastern countries today.
Shawwal crescent sighted, Pakistan to mark Eid Al-Fitr today
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Shawwal crescent sighted, Pakistan to mark Eid Al-Fitr today
- Eid Al-Fitr begins on the first day of the month of Shawwal in the Islamic lunar calendar
- It is one of two major Muslim festivals that marks end of holy fasting month of Ramadan
Pakistan receives fourth consignment of Chinese aid for disaster-hit communities
- The shipment includes 14,000 tents, 12,000 blankets and 1,000 sleeping bags
- Disaster management authority says it is ensuring supply of relief goods to affectees
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has received the fourth consignment of relief goods from China for victims of natural disasters, including flood-affected communities, a Pakistani state broadcaster reported on Monday.
Intense rains and floods this year killed more than 1,037 people and damaged crops worth billions of dollars in Pakistan, which ranks among nations most vulnerable to climate change.
The deluges displaced millions of people as they damaged more than 229,000 homes, washed away 2,811 kilometers of roads, 790 bridges and over 22,800 livestock in affected areas.
The latest Chinese shipment included 14,000 tents, 12,000 blankets and 1,000 sleeping bags which reached the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said.
“So far, 45,000 blankets, 20,000 tents, 100 boats, 1,000 life jackets and 5,000 sleeping bags have been received from China under all the four aid consignments,” Radio Pakistan reported, citing the NDMA.
Pakistan and China have longstanding strategic, political, economic, defense and cultural relations. The arrival of the latest Chinese consignment comes amid the winter season, which has compounded the hardships of displaced communities.
“The NDMA is making all its resources available to the disaster victims and supply of relief goods will be ensured in the affected areas as per the need,” the report read.
