KARACHI: The crescent for the holy month of Ramazan is sighted and the month of fasting will commence from Thursday, May 17 in Pakistan, ARY News reported.
Chairman Central Ruet-e-Hilal Commitee, Mufti Muneebur Rehman made the announcement after heading session of central committee held in Karachi.
The regional and zonal Ruet-e-Hilal committees also held meetings in different parts of the country to assist the Central Committee to reach a decision.
Ramazan, in which the faithful abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset, will also begin on Thursday in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Oman, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Palestine, the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan.
During the day, Muslims must abstain from eating, drinking, gossip and cursing, and are encouraged to focus on meditative acts like prayer, reading the Quran and charity.
There are exceptions to fasting for children, the elderly, the sick, women who are pregnant, nursing or menstruating, and people travelling.
