The proposed law, titled the Pakistan Ruet Hilal Bill 2021, would order for the formation of a Federal Ruet Committee. The chairperson of this committee would hold the sole authority to make the announcements of the moon sighting, ending the multiple conflicting accounts of the moon sightings which circulate in Pakistan each year.
The bill tacks on a fine of up to Rs.50,000 or three years imprisonment for anyone found delivering ulterior evidence of the moon sighting. Additionally, television channels may be charged fines of up to Rs.1 million if they announce the sighting of the moon before the official announcement by the federal committee.
The bill would also ban any other groups from forming a committee on moon sightings.
The committee would comprise of 16 members, including the following: a chairperson, two Ulema from each province and Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir; a grade-20 officer from the Met Office, one scientist, a representative from the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission and director general-level officer from the Ruet Hilal Affairs division of the Ministry for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.