“Pakistan’s Islamic Identity Under Scrutiny as Female Alcohol Consumption and Vice Crimes Surge: ANN News Investigation”

📍By ANN News Desk | July 2025 | International Bureau

 

 

ISLAMABAD – A startling new report compiled by ANN News International Desk has revealed a dramatic rise in alcohol consumption among Pakistani women—marking a tenfold increase since 2024, despite the country’s legal and religious ban on alcohol. The findings challenge the core Islamic identity Pakistan claims to uphold and raise critical questions about the nation’s social and moral trajectory.

 

 

According to the survey conducted across major cities including Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi, women from both elite and middle-class backgrounds have shown a sharp rise in wine consumption. The data reveals that not only has wine become a status symbol in private gatherings and high-profile events, but its accessibility through underground channels has also surged.

 

 

 

“It’s no longer just the elite,” said a sociologist from Lahore on condition of anonymity.

“We’re seeing young university students, influencers, and even professionals turning to alcohol as a lifestyle choice, despite Islamic prohibitions. Society is changing—and not necessarily for the better.”

 

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The increase in alcohol use has coincided with a sharp growth in prostitution dens and underground “pleasure centres”, particularly in metropolitan areas. While prostitution remains officially illegal, enforcement is weak, and local media reports suggest that red-light zones are flourishing under political and police patronage.

 

 

 

Furthermore, crime statistics show an uptick in offenses involving drugs, sexual abuse, and violent altercations linked to alcohol and vice-related activities.

“We are witnessing a moral and ethical collapse,” said a retired Pakistani police officer.

“In many areas, sex work is openly conducted under the guise of massage parlours or guesthouses. And with increasing alcohol use, crimes are becoming more aggressive and complex.”

 

Pakistan’s Constitution declares it an “Islamic Republic”, and the consumption of alcohol by Muslims is prohibited under the law. Yet the sharp contrast between legal frameworks and on-ground realities has sparked a national and international debate.

“Pakistan cannot keep preaching Islam abroad and practicing the opposite at home,” said Dr. Naseem Akhtar, a religious scholar based in Islamabad.

“There is a dangerous disconnect between identity and actions.”

Analysts say this growing hypocrisy is not only damaging Pakistan’s global image but also eroding internal cohesion and discipline within society.

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• 10x increase in wine/alcohol consumption among women since 2024
• Widespread access to alcohol through illegal networks
• Growth of red-light areas and illegal “pro centres”
• Increased crime rates linked to drugs and vice activities
• Concerns from religious, law enforcement, and academic circles