कर्ज से परेशान पाकिस्तान ने शराब बेचना शुरू किया: गैर मुस्लिम देशों को सप्लाई शुरू, 50 साल पहले इस्लाम का हवाला देकर बैन किया था

Pakistan, which is struggling with debt, has started exporting liquor again after almost 50 years. The country’s only local company, Murree Brewery, has sent beer and other alcoholic drinks to countries like Britain, Japan, Portugal and Thailand in April 2026.

According to the company’s export manager Rameez Shah, initially a network is being built abroad and there are plans to increase production in future.

Liquor was banned in Pakistan for the Muslim population about 50 years ago citing Islamic rules. However, there are some relaxations for non-Muslims.

Now the government has allowed liquor export in 2025, after which the supply will be started in countries which are not part of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Pakistan has external debt of 138 billion dollars

According to media reports, there is a big difference between the earnings and expenditure of the Pakistani government. The actual income of the government in fiscal year 2026 is about 11,072 billion Pakistani rupees ($40 billion), while the expenditure has reached 16,286 billion rupees ($58 billion).

Out of this, about Rs 8,200 billion ($30 billion) is being spent only on repaying loan interest.

Pakistan currently has an external debt of approximately 38,640 billion Pakistani rupees ($138 billion). Apart from government debt, it also includes liabilities of the private sector, banks and companies. Of this, about 25,760 billion Pakistani rupees ($92 billion) is government debt.

Earlier, Murree Brewery was selling only non-alcoholic products.

For the last several years, Mari Brewery was exporting only non-alcoholic drinks. This includes packaged juices, mineral water and fruit flavored drinks.

The company’s revenue in the last financial year was $100 million (PKR 28 billion). The company’s CEO Isfanyar Bhandara had tried for an export license.

In 2021, Pakistan also allowed a Chinese company to produce liquor in Balochistan, so that the needs of the Chinese citizens working there could be met.

Before the ban, Mari Brewery used to export liquor to countries like India, Afghanistan and America. Now once again the company is trying to establish its hold in the foreign market.

An employee checking beer cans on the production line of Murree Brewery in Rawalpindi.

Bhutto had banned the sale of liquor

In April 1977, the then PM of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had banned the sale of liquor in the country. At that time a large and violent protest movement was going on against the Bhutto government.

Apart from rigging the 1977 elections, Bhutto was facing allegations like adopting ‘Western lifestyle’. When Bhutto started talks with these opposition leaders, they had some demands. Like night clubs and bars should be closed and the sale of liquor should be stopped completely.

Under this pressure, the Bhutto government also canceled the plan of a big casino to be built in Karachi. The casinos were scheduled to open in May 1977. This casino was being built by Tufail Shaikh, a businessman who had good relations with former military ruler Ayub Khan and later the Bhutto government.

Sheikh already ran a hotel and night club in the Saddar area of ​​Karachi and he hoped that the new casino would bring many tourists to Pakistan from the Gulf countries and Europe.

When Bhutto decided to ban liquor and night clubs, Sheikh became upset. But Bhutto assured them that it was only for some time and it would be ended as soon as the situation became better.

Zia ul Haq made more strict laws

Even though on paper the bars and liquor shops were closed, liquor was easily available from the back roads of hotels and shops. But Bhutto could not remain in power for long. In July 1977, Zia ul Haq, a military ruler, toppled his government.

After coming to power, Zia made this law more stringent and linked it to Islamic law. It was clearly stated that selling and drinking liquor is illegal for Muslims and there will be severe punishment for it.

However, one way out was left – licensed liquor shops. These shops could run only in the name of non-Muslim people and only they were allowed to sell liquor. Foreign people could also buy liquor from there by taking permit from the government.

In a coup in July 1977, Zia ul Haq made the liquor laws more stringent.

Musharraf relaxed the law

Over time the number of such licensed liquor shops increased in Pakistan, especially in Sindh and Balochistan, such as Karachi and Quetta. These increased further during the era of General Pervez Musharraf (1999–2008).

Musharraf described himself as a liberal. He tried to remove the 1979 law, but was unable to do so due to political compulsions. However, during his time, the implementation of liquor related laws was relaxed. Because of this it became easier for Muslims also to obtain liquor.

Claim- Due to alcohol ban, many people turned to heroin.

Religious organizations of Pakistan still say that the governments do not implement prohibition properly. On the other hand, some people say that this ban gave birth to illegal liquor mafia and hundreds of people died due to poisonous liquor.

He also says that due to the ban on alcohol, many people turned to heroin, which is much more dangerous.

A statistic shows that in 1979, only two cases of heroin were reported in Pakistan, but by 1985, Pakistan became one of the largest consumers of heroin in the world.

Religious people often say that drinking alcohol is against Islam and this habit is a legacy of the British era. But history says something else.

A 2008 study also found that alcohol consumption continued in Pakistan despite the 1977 and 1979 bans, because illegal methods existed. This brings to light that people’s habits cannot be completely changed by making laws.

Alcohol has been consumed in South Asia for 5000 years

People in South Asia have been drinking alcohol for 5000 years. Wine was also made in the Indus Valley Civilization. Takshashila Museum houses one of the world’s oldest distillers, which was found in Mohenjodaro.

Alcohol, cannabis and opium were all common during the Mughal and Delhi Sultanate era. Many rulers themselves drank alcohol. Some tried to stop it, but it was not completely successful.

————————

Read this news also…

Pakistani PM said – Now I feel ashamed in asking for loan: Our head remains bowed in front of other countries, it is our compulsion to accept their conditions.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz has expressed displeasure over the country’s increasing dependence on foreign debt. According to news agency ANI, Shahbaz admitted on Friday that due to the poor economic condition of the country, he had to repeatedly go on foreign tours and ask for loans.

The Pakistani Prime Minister was addressing business leaders in the capital Islamabad. He said, ‘I want to tell you that when Field Marshal Asim Munir and I go around the world asking for money, we feel ashamed.’

Shahbaz said- Taking loan is a big burden on our self-esteem. Many times we have to compromise. Many times we are not even able to say ‘no’ to their conditions. Read the full news…