ISLAMABAD, November 4 (IslamOnline) - The Central Pakistani Committee will meet Tuesday, November 5, to sight the crescent moon and decide accordingly on the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

The Pakistani government formed the Committee in a bid to end the disagreements between Pakistani Ulemas (Islamic scholars) from different juristic schools on the start of Ramadan.

The Committee comprises various Islamic groups and sects; Sunni, Shite, Deobandi, Hanafi, Salafi…etc. It also has regional branches in all Pakistani provinces, of which smaller centers, in towns and villages, are set. All the regional and other branches receive the individual testimonies to the eye-sighting of the Crescent and verify such sightings.

The Committee, after receiving the reports from the regional branches, weighs such reports, and agrees upon an ideal place to mark the Crescent. The place should be under clear skies, free from clouds or any other elements hindering eye-sight.

The Committee sights the crescent moon with the human eye, but also uses some devices at times.

The people of Punjab and Sanad provinces depend completely on the Central Committee in marking the advent of Ramadan. However, people of Sarhad Province, bordering Afghanistan, rely on their own eye-sighting. Therefore, differences may occur among the Pakistani provinces themselves, where some start fasting two or three days before others.