federal government. People would not be forced to adhere to it, said the minister.
The plan was attacked by the chair of the Religious Affairs Ministry committee that announces the start of Ramadan by co-ordinating sightings from across the country.
Mufti Munib-ur-Rehman, head of the Moon-sighting committee, accused Mr Chaudhry of being "unaware of religious matters".
He called on Prime Minister Imran Khan to rein in his ministers.
“Our announcements regarding the Moon have never been wrong," Mr Rehman told the Express Tribune.
"Everyone bears witness when the moon is sighted. If you are fond of making a lunar calendar, then go ahead and make a calendar of 100 years instead of just 10.”
Islamic scholars disagree on whether the Moon must be actually seen for Ramadan to begin. Moon-sighting controversies have been common over the years.
In the 1960s, the government twice went back on its original decision in a late-night reversal.
Other ideas to end Moon-sighting controversy between clerics in Pakistan have included the suggestion to simply follow what Saudi Arabia does.
With a population of 210 million, of which more than 96 per cent is Muslim, Pakistan's life is dominated by Ramadan for a month.
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