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  "path": "/news/1974092/ramazan-moon-sighted-holy-month-to-begin-in-pakistan-on-thursday",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-18T14:34:19.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.dawn.com",
  "tags": [
    "Pakistan",
    "_Daily Star_",
    "_The Hindu_",
    "sighted",
    "predicted",
    "Ramazan Relief Package"
  ],
  "textContent": "The Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee announced on Wednesday that the Ramazan moon was sighted, and the holy month would begin in Pakistan on Thursday (February 19).\n\nThe announcement was made by committee chairman, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, as it met in Peshawar for the moon sighting.\n\nSpeaking to the media after the meeting, Azad said that the skies were clear in some areas and cloudy in others.\n\nHe said that testimonies were received from several parts of the country, including Quetta, Islamabad, Waziristan, Dir, Karachi, Buner, Mardan and Tando Allahyar.\n\n“Therefore, it was decided with consensus that the first day of Ramazan would be on Thursday,” he said.\n\nSeparately, according to the _Daily Star_, the crescent moon was sighted in Bangladesh, while _The Hindu_ reported that it was also spotted in India.\n\nSaudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan observed their first day of fasting on Wednesday after the crescent moon was sighted on Tuesday night.\n\nEarlier this month, based on the moon’s expected age, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) had predicted that the first day of Ramazan was “likely to fall” on February 19.\n\nIt is worth mentioning that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a Rs38 billion Ramazan Relief Package for 12.1 million deserving families across the four provinces as well as Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).\n\n“Every deserving family will receive Rs13,000 through a digital wallet or bank transfer, without discrimination based on party affiliation or point of view,” he said.",
  "title": "Ramazan moon sighted; holy month to begin in Pakistan on Thursday"
}