Pak govt prepares scientific lunar calendar ahead of Ramzan

A panel of experts set up by the Pakistan government has prepared a scientific lunar calendar to end the controversy over moon-sighting ahead of Ramzan and according to it, Eid is expected to fall on June 5, a senior minister said.

Since assuming office as Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has been pushing for using scientific methods for preparing the Islamic calendar and doing away with the traditional moon-sighting practices used by the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.

Chaudhry announced on Monday that the scientific calendar has been completed and "will be sent to the Council of Islamic Ideology on Tuesday".

The minister said that according to the scientific lunar calendar prepared by his ministry, Eid is expected to fall on June 5.

The Pakistan government formed a scientific committee this month to end the moon-sighting controversy, angering several Islamic scholars.

According to the minister, the calendar has been prepared through collaboration between Space and Upper ..