ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly tonight [Jan 24] decided to set up a Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee for the sighting of the Eid and Ramzan moon and then raced to pass a Bill for changing the name of the Pakistan Red Cross Society to Pakistan Red Crescent Society. The resolution to set up a Ruet-i-Hilal committee was moved … by Minister for Information, Haj and Auqaf, Maulana Kausar Niazi. … It was unanimously approved after some modifications.

The resolution drew ovations from all sides ... and the Members expressed the view that its formation would bring about unity and discipline. Maulana Niazi announced today that the Chairman of the committee would be elected by the members of the committee themselves. — News agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Washington,] US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said today [Jan 23] the USA expected the Arab oil embargo to end before Israel and Egypt completed their disengagement along the Suez Canal. … Dr. Kissinger told a Press conference … that failure to end the embargo within “a reasonable time”, would be “highly inappropriate” and would create serious doubts in the US about the “Arab nations with whom we have dealt on this issue”.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2024