Eid-ul-Azha, said Minister of Federal Affairs Fawad Chaudhry on Monday, will be celebrated on 31 July “as per calendar from the Ministry of Science and Technology.”
Chaudhry spoke to Twitter that on July 21, the Moon for Zilhajj month will be visible in and around Karachi. He added that with the help of binoculars the moon could also be seen, and in certain areas the naked eye.
وزارت @MinistryofST کے کیلنڈر کے مطابق عید الضحیٰ 31جولائ 2020 بروز جمعہ ہو گی، 21 جولائ کو ذیاالحج کا چاند کراچی اور اس کے ارد گرد علاقوں میں دوربین سے واضع طور پر اور کئ علاقوں میں آنکھ سے بھی دیکھا جا سکے گا۔ چاند کی لوکیشن کیلئےآپ“رویت”ایپ بھی استعمال کرسکتے ہیں ۔ #EID
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) June 15, 2020
Chaudhry added that the “exact location” of the moon can also be determined through the Ruet App.
The minister has been advocating that the Ministry of Science and Technology take the lead in the sighting of the moon issue which is usually done by the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee.
He has called for the ministry to take lead so the controversy surrounding the issue could be ended once and for all.
On Eid-ul-Fitr, Chaudhry had said that two moon observatories will be set up by next year to “permanently resolve” moon-sighting conflicts.
The minister had said the plan was to set up moon observatories in Islamabad and Gwadar where anyone would be able to go and see the moon for themselves.
“Given the debate we observed over moon [sighting] this year, we intend to set up a moon observatory in Islamabad next year and we’re also trying to set one up in Gwadar too,” the federal minister explained.
“The issue of moon-sighting will be permanently resolved after the moon observatories” are established, he had noted. “A common person will be able to go and see the moon and decide for themselves”.
