Visibility of Luna and Lunar Crescent

6.2 LUNAR CALENDAR FOR PAKISTAN
Mosl of the hlami. counri* follow d ob*wadonal lu.d cal€nde, ar leasl fot
ftn rcligious purposes, Although subslantial work is done to cvolle a pediction
ciiie on ro dcvclop a univerel calenda! by llys (1984b, 1988, 1991, 1994a, 199,1b,
1997) ed otheB, r truly lnilersd calendd could nor be d€velop.d. As according Io
coDmon Islmic b€liefactual sighline of$c n6! L6d crceenl is n*essaty to b€gin a
Lund monlh, such a univesl calend& $cns lo be inpo$ible. This b |fue €speci.lly
b€cau* just aner conjuncion $e new luna! crcscenr is nol visibl€ on rhe sme day
lhroughoullh€ worl,l, eveD ift*o places ofobseNatio.areoD sm€ loDgirude. According
1o recent delelopnenb (Scabefer. 1991. Yallop, I998, Qurcshi &Khao.2007)
ob*ryational l@r calendaB for each Isl.mic counlry m be d.veloped bur dc ooi
s.ncally acceptcd b)'' rarious Isl.nic conmunities.
ln Pakisian an Offrcial Commiirle (Ruer-e-Hilal Comnft(ec) decidcs about when
1o beg$ a Lunar nFdrh on tbc bdis ofpublic cvidence and obseNatioos. This connilre
sa$e6 infodaioi 3bour thc claim ofsishriig rhe csce Thc clrims arejudged oi
rhc basis oflhe diFdncsof$e Islmic Laws. Som€ FpEsenlalivesofvdousscienrific
organiatiom de cle consnhed. Oncc $c clain/s is jNritled relisiously andor
soientilicauy, $e Ennoucemenl is nDde rboul begiming ofthe nexr Lun,r m.nrh In x
way,lhe beginning ofE\v lunemond is bascd on public obscBations ' verined ii licw
ofde pnncipals laid dosn br lslamic shariaat laws (lisled inanicle 1.3).
'lle advmrae. is rhal a larse numb$ of ob*Ne6" trle pan in $e exeai$ and
wilh it the pmbability of sighlins .ew cBscenl is incesed. Morcover, hon oa thcsc
observeis de iionr rural arcas sherc thde is leasl ihduriallraffic 6nd liSht pollution,
aid n k higlJy prob.blc thal lhe obseNing condilions d€ n€ar perfect. TheEfore in this
sluljy lhe* public obs.rvations e considcrcd |o bave a hki degE. of autnendciry. ln
lhis \ork all lhcsc public ob$dation-b.*d d.res ofsiart of€ach Lunu nonth frcn ye.r
2000 b 2007 ae reproduced and 4 srudi.d in conparison wirh thc Yallop\ q value and
l9l