Pakistan Ministry Prepares Lunar Calendar to End Moon Row

Islamabad: The experts of a scientific committee formed by Imran Khan led government in Pakistan on Tuesday announced that they have prepared a lunar calendar to end the moon-sighting controversy in the country, Express News reported.

Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry had frustrated several Islamic scholars by criticising their moon-sighting procedure. He also promised to prepare the lunar calendar before the start of Ramazan this year.

Fawad maintained, "It is not sane to spend 3.6-4 million for the sighting of the moon and instead guidance should be taken from his ministry. A 10-year calendar will end the disputes and extra expenses."

The ministry of science and technology prepared the calendar for five years which would be reviewed every five years.

"We have contacted the Islamic Ideological Council (IIC) to get its opinion on the lunar calendar. 

Fawad said, "Before issuing the lunar calendar, religious scholars will be consulted and taken into confidence. After taking opinion from the IIC, the calendar will be sent to the federal cabinet for approval."

"We will try to release the lunar calendar during Ramazan," hoped the minister.

On Monday, Fawad also invited clerics heading the officially sanctioned Ruvyat-e Hilal Committee Mufti Muneebur Rehman and his rival Shahabuddin Popalzai who does not follow Rehman led committee's sightings to see "how the moon cycle works".

"We are inviting Maulana Muneebur Rehman and Shahabuddin Popalzai to come and witness how the moon cycle works," wrote Fawad. "And see for themselves how easy science has made it easy to predict the lunar calendar. There is no need for an arduous task," Fawad said on Twitter.