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SHOCKING! Bankrupt Pakistan takes big decision, set to sell alcohol after 50 years, starts exports to…, list of buyers include…
Pakistan’s only locally owned brewery has resumed alcohol exports after nearly five decades, even though such products remain banned for the country’s largely Muslim population.
Murree Brewery has begun exporting its beer and other alcoholic beverages to countries that are not part of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
Murree Brewery
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Murree Brewery has begun exporting its beer and other alcoholic beverages to countries outside the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.The OIC is a group of 57 countries with significant Muslim populations. The company’s export manager, Rameez Shah, told PTI over the phone that shipments were sent in April to countries including the United Kingdom, Japan, Portugal, and Thailand.For several years, Murree Brewery has also been exporting non-alcoholic products such as packaged juices, mineral water, and fruit-flavoured malt beverages.
Approval from Government in 2025
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Rameez Shah said the company received approval from the Pakistan government in 2025 to export alcoholic beverages. Murree Brewery was originally founded in the 1860s by British entrepreneurs Edward Dyer and Edward Whymper in Murree to supply beer to British troops.
Owned by Parsi Family After Partition
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Before the 1947 partition of British India, the brewery was bought by a Parsi family. It is now led by Isphanyar Bhandara, who also serves as a member of Pakistan’s National Assembly and played a key role in securing the export license.
China-Linked Brewery Approval in 2021
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In 2021, the Pakistan government allowed a China-run brewery and distillery in Balochistan to produce alcohol. This was mainly to meet the needs of thousands of Chinese workers involved in projects, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Alcohol Ban Since 1977
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Alcohol was available to all citizens in Pakistan until 1977, when the Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto imposed a ban under pressure from Islamic groups. After this, Murree Brewery could only sell to non-Muslim citizens and foreigners through licensed outlets. Before the ban, the company exported to countries like India, Afghanistan, and the United States.
Future Plans and Revenue Growth
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After getting export approval, Murree Brewery is now working with international distributors who earlier handled its non-alcoholic products. The company plans first to build a strong export network and then increase production. In recent years, it has earned significant revenue from non-alcoholic drinks, reporting about $100 million in the last financial year, and is now aiming to expand globally and earn more foreign exchange.
