Pakistanis have been able to partially see the longest solar eclipse of the 21st century on Wednesday morning.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department said Wednesday that eclipse started at 5:58 am local time (2358 GMT), was at its height at 8:35 am (0235 GMT) and ended at 11:12 am (0512 GMT).

The total eclipse was visible from India, China, Japanese Islands and the South Pacific Ocean. The partial eclipse was visible from South Asia, East Asia, Indonesia and Islands of the Pacific Ocean.

The last total solar eclipse observed in Pakistan was on Aug. 11, 1999 in Karachi. Students and faculty of the astronomy department took an interest in the phenomenon.

The eclipse is met with trepidation and fear by some Pakistanis who believe that it is dangerous to undertake certain acts when an eclipse takes place.

Pregnant women are told to stay indoors and not cut anything, otherwise their child will be born with a cleft lip.