Although the High Court has issued strict orders to close all the liquor stores in Sindh, but there would not be any dry days, as a huge quantity of imported liquor is already being distributed in the country.
Generally, the foreign origin liquor is not sold on the stores, which the court has ordered to close down. The smugglers and other elements have developed an organized distribution system and the orders are generally booked on phone and the goods are then supplied to the given address.
The distribution is not the big question here; the real issue is the supply of this foreign origin liquor. Mostly, the foreign origin liquor is imported by the foreign missions in the Pakistan, or their authorized contractors. The imported consignments which have the diplomatic immunity are dumped at various places and from these places and warehouses, the liquor is supplies to customers.
It is even interesting that when any such consignment is seized by the Customs authorities, the diplomats intervene and get the consignments released with the help of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Diplomatic missions are granted quota to import liquor, but these missions and their authorized contractors bring much more than the quota.
When consignments are seized for being more than the allocated quota, these diplomats get their quota increased from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the imported liquor continue to find their way in the local market.
The stores closed in Sindh on the order of Court usually sell locally made liquor and wine and beer, but the import, sale and consumption of foreign liquor, wine and beer is already prohibited. Court has taken a very positive step, but the leniency of Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the problem.
The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued orders to police and excise authorities to ensure immediate closure of all wine shops across the province with immediate effect.
The court directed DG Excise and Taxation and Inspector General Sindh Police to immediately implement the orders. The SHC also ruled that licenses issued to all liquor shops should be cancelled and wine shops should be closed.
Representatives of Christian, Hindu and Sikh communities have also opposed sale of wine. The courtroom resonated with applause after the court’s decision.