With first of Ramazan on Sunday, Taraweeh prayers to begin tonight

Taraweeh prayers will be held across the country from Saturday night as Ramazan begins from Sunday.

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, under the chairmanship of Mufti Muneebur Rehman, announced Friday night that since no sightings of moon were received from anywhere in the country, Ramzan will begin from Sunday.

However, Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai of Masjid Qasim Ali Khan, Peshawar announced later that they had received several credible testimonies of moon sighting and thus many in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will begin observing Ramazan from Saturday.

In light of Ramazan, the setting up of Sasta Bazaars has been completed by the district administrations across the country so affordable essential commodities can be provided to the public.

No load shedding during Sehr, Iftar and Taraweeh

A spokesperson of the Water and Power Ministry said that according to the nation-wide Ramazan load management plan, no electricity load shedding will take place during Sehr, Iftar and Taraweeh times. He added however that load shedding will take place for four hours in the urban areas and six hours in the rural areas.

In Karachi, the management of K-Electric — the country’s sole privatised power company — met the commissioner wherein the utility’s officials assured the provincial government that no load-shedding will be carried out during Sehr and Iftar times in Karachi.

First day of fasting in several countries today

Muslim communities in Britain, France, Germany and other European countries, as well as those in the US and Canada are observing the first of Ramazan on Saturday (today).

Saudi Arabia, UAE, other Gulf kingdoms and states in the Middle East are also observing Ramazan from Saturday.

However, with no credible moon sightings in India and Bangladesh, the two countries will observing the first day of Ramazan from Sunday.

In Saudi Arabia, thousands of Muslims participated in Taraweeh prayers Friday night in Masjid-e-Nabvi in Medina and Masjid Al Haram in Mecca.

In the UK, in light of the Manchester attack, security has been heightened around mosques.