Karachi: According to a recent survey by Gallup and Gilani Pakistan, nearly half of the Pakistani population strongly believes that pregnant women should not step outside during a lunar eclipse. This belief is even more prevalent among women and rural residents.

The survey, which aimed to understand public perceptions regarding lunar eclipses, revealed that 49% of respondents consider it “very true” that pregnant women should avoid going outdoors during such events. An additional 18% deemed it “somewhat true.” In contrast, 20% of those surveyed dismissed the notion as “not true at all” or simply “just beliefs.” A further 9% admitted uncertainty, while 4% opted not to respond.

Conducted between September 12 and September 23, 2025, this nationally representative survey comprised 753 adult men and women from urban and rural areas across all four provinces. The data was gathered through telephonic interviews, employing the Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) method. The survey’s results have an estimated error margin of ± 2-3 percent at a 95% confidence level.

The findings underscore the persistence of traditional beliefs, particularly among women and rural populations, and suggest a potential need for targeted health education to address these cultural practices. The study was carried out under the auspices of the Gilani Research Foundation, the Pakistani affiliate of Gallup International.