Fawad Chaudhry said that the Ruet-e-Hilal committee should not at least charge for sighting the moon, adding that the committee should sight the moon voluntarily.
Islamabad (Pakistan Point News – 6th May, 2019) Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has once again criticised the central Ruet-e-Hilal committee.
Fawad Chaudhry said that the Ruet-e-Hilal committee should not at least charge for sighting the moon, adding that the committee should sight the moon voluntarily.
He said that a huge payment is given to them from the national kitty every year for sighting the moon.
The Science and Technology minister said that we can save the expenses from national exchequer if we take science’s help to sight the moon.
He further said that if a ten-year Calendar is made, it could save the heavy amounts paid to the committee every year.
The minister said that educated Ulemas are also supporting this proposal.
I have just given an opinion, nobody is bound to agree to it, he said, adding that it is not wise to spend Rs to 4 million every year from national exchequer just to sight moon.
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry had earlier in a tweet said that a five-member committee will now be responsible to issue calendar of important Islamic dates.
The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee, set up in 1974 under a resolution passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan, determines the appearance of moon and announcement of each Islamic month regularly.
The purpose of the central Ruet committee has been to celebrate religious festivals with unanimity in the country but every year, it sparks some controversy over moon sighting.
To bring an end to such rifts, Fawad Chaudhry said that a five member committee, including Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), Met department and Science and Technology experts, has been formed.
In a tweet on Sunday, he said that this committee will release a calendar of important Islamic dates for the next 10 years, including Eid, Muharram and Ramzan.
The minister said that this will resolve the controversies of moon sighting that surfaces every year.
