KARACHI: Fawad Chaudhry, a senior politician and former PTI information minister, has advocated for the establishment of licensed liquor shops in Pakistan, proposing a system regulated by the state similar to those in the UAE, Turkey, and other Muslim-majority countries.
During an appearance on the YouTube talk show *Drive With Shazia Zeeshan*, Chaudhry argued that alcohol consumption already occurs in Pakistan despite legal restrictions. He suggested that a regulated framework would help curb illegal sales, reduce corruption, and bring the trade under proper state oversight.
He linked the current black market to the 1977 prohibition law and emphasized that a licensing system could dismantle this parallel network.
Chaudhry also criticized former Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial for the closure of sheesha cafés and similar establishments, claiming that these actions only pushed such activities further underground instead of eliminating them.
He further expressed concern over how Pakistan has become a “bannistan,” where festivals and social spaces are routinely shut down rather than managed. Referring to how countries like the UAE and Turkey regulate bars and nightlife while still attracting investment and tourism, he argued that Pakistan needs a more modern and tolerant approach to recreation to progress, rather than relying on blanket bans that push certain behaviors into the shadows.
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