PESHAWAR, Dec 16: Provincial Minister for Religious Affairs Maulana Amanullah Haqqani on Saturday said that three smaller provinces had agreed to celebrate Eids and Ramazan with Saudi Arabia, however due to Punjab’s opposition a consensus had not been reached on the issue.

“Despite the differences the issue will be resolved amicably,” the minister told a news conference here at the media centre of the information department.

He said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had directed the religious affairs ministry to resolve the moon-sighting dispute between the central and zonal Ruet-i-Hilal committees to ensure observance of religious festivals in a unified way.

He said the first meeting of the committee was held in Islamabad, which was attended by representatives from all the four provinces and was presided over by federal Minister for Religious Affairs Ijazul Haq.

Mr Haqqani said it had been decided to constitute a sub-committee to be represented by two members from each province.

The minister said that he had suggested that Saudi Arabia had an effective system for moon sighting and it would be appropriate if Pakistan followed the announcement of the Saudi government regarding Eids and Ramazan.

He said the sub-committee was tasked to prepare guidelines for the central committee and would submit its report before Eidul Azha.

The minister said that discretionary powers of the central committee chairman would be minimised.

He said the NWFP had agreed to seek assistance from experts and observatories, but their opinion should not be contrary to the Holy Quran and Shariah.

He said that provincial government would also hold a convention of Ulema before Eidul Azha.