The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has released a detailed forecast for the sighting of the Ramadan 1447 AH crescent moon, indicating a high probability that the holy month will begin on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
According to the PMD’s Climate Data Processing Center, the birth of the new moon is expected on February 17 at 5:01 PM. By the evening of February 18, the moon will be approximately 26 hours old, well above the 19-hour threshold required for a clear sighting.
The Met Office has provided specific cutoff times for moon sighting across various regions, noting that the sky is expected to be clear or partly cloudy in most parts of the country.
As Ramadan falls in the late winter/early spring of 2026, worshippers in Pakistan will experience relatively moderate fasting hours compared to previous summer cycles.
Shortest Fasts: Globally, countries in the Southern Hemisphere like New Zealand, Chile, and South Africa will observe the shortest fasts (approx. 11–12 hours).
Longest Fasts: Regions in the far north, including Iceland, Greenland, and Norway, will continue to see the longest durations, potentially exceeding 16 hours.
While the Met Office provides scientific predictions, the formal commencement of Ramadan will be announced by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee after their official meeting on the evening of February 18.
