Sindh Assembly Sticks with Liquor License, Sparks Fierce Debate

The Sindh Assembly just shot down a proposal to cancel all liquor licenses in the province. That means alcohol sales stay legal, at least for now. The decision lit a firestorm—politicians, activists, and regular folks all weighed in, some cheering the move, others furious about what it means for society.

Here’s how it shakes out. In Sindh, you need a license to sell alcohol. The law says only non-Muslims and foreign nationals can buy it, and the government keeps a tight grip through excise and taxation rules. The rejected proposal wanted to yank those licenses completely, which would have shut down legal alcohol sales overnight. Lawmakers pushed back, saying the current system already keeps things in check. They warned that if you scrap legal sales, you don’t get rid of drinking—you just push it underground. And that usually leads to more problems, not fewer.

People are split. Some politicians call the decision realistic—they say it protects minority rights and keeps sales above board. Others, especially conservative groups and some activists, see it as a blow to public morals and health. They want tougher rules, tighter monitoring, and less room for loopholes.

For a lot of people, though, this isn’t really about morality—it’s about what actually works. Ban something outright, and you often get black markets. Regulate it, and at least you can keep an eye on things. Plus, those legal sales mean money for the provincial budget—excise duties and license fees add up. If the assembly had pulled the plug, Sindh would have lost some serious revenue, and officials say illegal sellers don’t pay taxes and don’t care about safety.

So, by keeping the current system, the government is betting on control and stability. They’re trusting enforcement agencies to do their job and stick to the rules.

At the end of the day, the Sindh liquor license decision is about more than just alcohol. It’s about how to govern a province with deep divides over culture, law, and public health. It’s a reminder that one-size-fits-all answers rarely work here. Instead of flipping policies on their head, experts say the province should double down on enforcing the rules and making sure license holders actually follow the law.

The debate’s far from over. For now, though, Sindh’s sticking with the system it knows—even if not everyone’s happy about it.

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