Pakistan Resumes Alcohol Exports for the First Time in Nearly 50 Years

An employee of the Murree Brewery works in a barley processing unit in the factory June 23, 2025, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan has resumed alcoholic beverage exports for the first time in nearly five decades, marking a notable shift for a country where alcohol remains banned for the majority of its population.

According to Press Tree India, Murree Brewery has begun exporting alcoholic beverages to markets including the United Kingdom, Japan, Portugal and Thailand. The shipments began in April after the company received government approval in 2025.

The move marks Pakistan’s return to international alcohol trade following a nationwide ban in 1977.

Murree Brewery’s export manager, Rameez Shah, said the company is initially focused on building distribution networks in overseas markets before scaling production volumes, per Press Tree India.

Alcohol production and consumption remain heavily restricted in Pakistan, where a ban introduced under former Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto prohibits use by the country’s Muslim majority. Sales are limited to non-Muslim residents and foreign visitors through licensed channels.

Despite these constraints, Murree Brewery has continued to operate by producing non-alcoholic beverages, including juices, bottled water, and malt drinks. Those products have formed a significant share of its business in recent years.

The company reported approximately $100 million in revenue in its last financial year, driven largely by its non-alcoholic portfolio.

Founded in the 1860s by British entrepreneurs during the colonial era, Murree Brewery was originally established to supply beer to British troops stationed in the region. It later came under ownership of a Parsi family and remains Pakistan’s only locally owned brewery.

Before the 1977 ban, the company exported alcohol to multiple international markets, including the United States, India, and Afghanistan.

The approval to resume exports follows broader regulatory changes, including a 2021 decision allowing a Chinese-run brewery and distillery to produce alcohol in Balochistan to serve foreign workers tied to infrastructure projects.

Murree Brewery said it plans to expand exports through partnerships with existing international distributors that previously handled its non-alcoholic products, according to Press Tree India. The company is also exploring joint ventures as it re-establishes its presence in global alcohol markets.

The restart of exports positions Murree Brewery to generate new foreign revenue streams while operating within the constraints of Pakistan’s domestic alcohol restrictions.