Committee of experts formed to end moon-sighting controversies: Fawad Chaudhry

ISLAMABAD: Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Sunday said a new committee of experts has been established which would determine moon sighting for key dates and months in the Islamic calendar for the next 10 years.

The five-member committee will comprise science and technology experts from SUPARCO (Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission) and MET Office, Chaudhry wrote in a Twitter post.

The committee will prepare an Islamic calendar of important dates and months for the next 10 years including Ramzan, Eid, and Muharram, which will put an end to the moon-sighting controversies that arise every year, the minister added.  

Meanwhile, the central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee chief Mufti Munib-ur-Rehman strongly disagreed with Chaudhry and said that the minister is 'unaware of religious matters'.

"Fawad Chaudhry is unaware of the system. He doesn't even know that the committee meets at Suparco. I have previously appealed to the premier to let speak only concerned minister on religious issues. The science and technology minister doesn't understand the sensitivity of the issue he shouldn't have a licence to speak on it," he said. 

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has predicted the possibility of Ramzan moon sighting on the evening of May 6 (Monday).