KARACHI (Dunya News) -The Ruyat-e-Hilal Research Council has predicted that the crescent moon of Shaban-ul-Muazzam is unlikely to be sighted in Pakistan on Monday evening, January 19, 2026, due to unfavorable astronomical conditions.
According to the Council, this means that Shaban 1447 Hijri is expected to begin on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, after the completion of 30 days of Rajab-ul-Murajjab.
Secretary General of the Council, Khalid Ijaz Mufti, said that the new moon will be born at 12:52am Pakistan Standard Time on the night between Sunday and Monday (January 18–19). However, at sunset on January 19, the age of the moon across all parts of Pakistan will be less than 18 hours, whereas a minimum of 19 hours is generally required for visibility.
He further explained that the time difference between sunset and moonset will also fall short of the required criteria. The gap will be 29 minutes in Gilgit and Muzaffarabad, 30 minutes in Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore, and Charsadda, 31 minutes in Quetta, and 33 minutes in Karachi and Jiwani, while at least 40 minutes is considered necessary for moon sighting.
Based on these scientific parameters, the Council stated that even under clear weather conditions, the crescent will not be visible with the naked eye, binoculars, or telescopes on January 19.
The Council reiterated that the official announcement regarding the sighting of the Shaban moon will be made by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee in accordance with religious procedures.