ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Senate was told that 20 million people in Pakistan drink alcohol, reflecting an alarming increase in the sale and consumption of alcohol.
Speaking on the floor of the Senate, the Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) Senator Mushtaq Ahmed said that drinking alcohol by 20 million people out of 220 million of the Country is alarming.
Senator Mushtaq Ahmed pointed out that Islam prohibits the consumption of alcohol but its consumption is on the rise in the Country. He said that alcohol is being sold illegally on a large scale in the Country, alleging that institutions and organizations are involved in this illegal business.
The Senator further said that alcohol is being smuggled in collusion with personnel of Customs, Coast Guard and FC.
شراب کی بڑھتی ہوئی خریدوفروخت اور استعمال میں تشویشناک حد تک اضافہ ہوا ہے سینیٹر مشتاق احمد نے شراب سے متعلق تحریک ایوان میں پیش کر دی pic.twitter.com/1vMA0Nzx9s
— Mustafa (@Mustafabhatti03) February 20, 2023
Mushtaq Ahmed said that liquor permits are issued to minorities in the Country; however, unfortunately no reports or details exist regarding liquor.
While speaking, Senator of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) Danesh Kumar remarked that even the religion of minorities does not allow alcohol in the name of minorities, adding that the elite is involved in drugs like alcohol.
Senator Dinesh Kumar said that some people in the Upper House of the Parliament also consume alcohol. He said that everyone should be permitted to drink alcohol if there are no existing laws to prevent it.