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When Britain transferred power to India and Pakistan in 1947, the ownership of many businesses was also handed over to each other. One of these was Murree Brewery. It is considered to be one of the oldest distilleries in Asia.

 

Murree Brewery was earlier owned by a British family. But later it was handed over to the Bhandara family of Lahore. This was a Parsi family, which had successfully progressed in the liquor business. This brewery is now run by Isfanyar Bhandara.

 

According to a Times of India report, he recently halted in New Delhi during his Nepal visit. Wearing a Pakistani flag badge on a blue outfit, businessman Isfanyar said that this is my tenth visit to India.

 

Alcohol is banned in Pakistan

Pakistan is an Islamic republic. About 96 percent of the population here is Muslim. Therefore, the liquor business is highly regulated in Pakistan. It is written on the brewery's website - 'Under the law of the country, Pakistani Muslims cannot drink alcohol. Non-Muslims and foreigners need a permit to drink alcohol.'

 

This business has proved to be very profitable for the Bhandara family. Isfanyar says, 'We make beer from Australian barley. Our vodka and single malt are also very good. This is all because of the quality. We also make fruit juices and bottled water, which are also exported.'

 

Bhandara family active in politics

Apart from business, Isfanyar is also a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan. His father was a Union Minister in Zia-ul-Haq's government in the 1980s. He was also an MP during Pervez Musharraf's tenure.

 

After partition, there were 25,000 Parsis in Pakistan. But later the situation became very pathetic. Isfanyar says, 'Today we are less than 1000. Most of the Parsi community is above 80 and 90 years of age. Very few Parsis are young.'

 

Dependent on imports from India

Isfanyar Bhandara gets the raw material and machinery for his business from India. He says, 'Other companies in Pakistan also do the same. But the problem is that it comes via Dubai.'

 

On the issue of trade, he says, "We may disagree on Kashmir. But we should put it on the back-burner. We should put aside the burden of history and think about the common needs of the common people. We should open the Wagah border."

 

It was established in 1860

  • Murree Brewery was established in 1860 in Lahore. It was built for the British Army. Edward Dyer, father of Reginald Dyer, the culprit of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, was its first manager. Due to water shortage and other reasons, it was shifted to Rawalpindi in 1890, where its headquarters are now.
  • Isfanyar Bhandara says, 'Earlier, Pakistan Railways tracks were laid inside the brewery. They used to take the beer to Kabul, Amritsar and Karachi Port.' But after 1970, the rules and regulations of Pakistan changed and later alcohol was banned.

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