Fawad Chaudhry, senior politician and former PTI information minister, has urged Pakistan to permit licensed liquor shops under strict regulation, similar to systems in the UAE, Turkey, and other Muslim-majority countries.
In an appearance on the YouTube talk show “Drive With Shazia Zeeshan,” he said alcohol consumption already exists in Pakistan despite legal restrictions, and argued that a regulated framework would curb illegal sales, reduce corruption, and bring the trade under state oversight.
He linked the current black market to the 1977 prohibition law and said a licensing regime could help dismantle that parallel system.
Chaudhry also criticized former Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, blaming him for the closure of sheesha cafés and similar establishments, which he suggested only pushed such activities further underground instead of eliminating them.
He further said Pakistan had been turned into a “bannistan,” where festivals and social spaces are routinely shut down instead of being 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, tolerant approach to recreation if it wants to progress, rather than relying on blanket bans that drive behavior into the shadows.
Check out the full video here: