Pakistan National Assembly rejects resolution on liquor ban

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Tuesday rejected a resolution calling for a ban on the manufacturing, import, sale and drinking of liquor and issuance of its permits in the country.
PML-N’s MNA Chaudhry Hamid Hameed moved the resolution, which stated that the government should take effective steps to impose a ban on manufacturing, import, issuance of permits, sale and drinking of liquor in the country. However, the House rejected the resolution when State Minister for Interior Baleeghur Rahman contended that it is of no use because a ban is already in place to bar the “common man” in the country from drinking. Interestingly, when the resolution was put to vote, there were few voices of “no”, that too meek and that was construed as rejection of the resolution. The House also unanimously passed a resolution demanding the government take effective steps for elimination of poverty from the country. The resolution was moved by Dr Imran Khattak of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and stressed devising job provision programmes to revive the industry and alleviate poverty.