Alcohol regulations in Balochistan

Licences needed

Distillery Licence (D-1/D-2), Brewery Licence, Rectified Spirit Licence, Bottling Permit

Authority

Excise, Taxation and Anti-Narcotics Department, Government of Balochistan

Documents

SECP corporate incorporation certificate, detailed architectural and plant layout plans, NOC from Home Department/District Administration, environmental approval, storage tank calibrations, excise security bond

Fees

not confirmed

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Who can import

Commercial import for general retail is prohibited under the Federal Import Policy Order (Appendix-A banned list). Imports are restricted solely to privileged persons, accredited non-Muslim foreign diplomatic missions, and licensed bonded warehouses supplying foreign tourists/diplomats.

Licences or registrations

Customs Bonded Warehouse License, Import Authorization / Excise Exemption Pass

Authority

Ministry of Commerce, Pakistan Customs (Federal Board of Revenue), and Balochistan Excise, Taxation and Anti-Narcotics Department

Documents

Diplomatic duty-free exemption certificate / Ministry of Foreign Affairs authorization, Import General Manifest, Bill of Lading, Certificate of Origin

Fees

not confirmed

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Required

no

Process

No formal commercial brand or label registration system exists because general commercial market entry is prohibited; locally manufactured products (PMFL) receive formula, ABV, and label approvals as part of the distillery's operational permissions from the provincial Excise Department.

Authority

Excise, Taxation and Anti-Narcotics Department, Government of Balochistan

Documents and samples

not confirmed

Fees

not confirmed

Renewal

not confirmed

Time to obtain

not confirmed

Commercial import of spirituous liquor is banned under Appendix-A of the Import Policy Order 2022. Allowed consignments for diplomatic or authorized bonded use require a provincial import pass under the Baluchistan Excise Regulation 1915, batch-specific Pakistan Single Window declarations, certificates of origin and analysis, and direct clearance into customs bonded storage.

Statutory Customs Duty (CD): 90% ad valorem; Statutory Additional Customs Duty (ACD): 6%; Statutory Sales Tax: 18%; Advance Income Tax: 12% (PCT Heading 2208).

Provincial excise duty, vend fee / vend tax, and still-head duty administered by the Balochistan Excise, Taxation and Anti-Narcotics Department; federal sales tax of 18% applies on taxable supplies.

Strictly limited to a small number of licensed private retail 'wine shops' and licensed high-end hotel service points. Sales are lawful only to non-Muslim citizens and non-Muslim foreign passport holders presenting valid Excise Department purchase permits with monthly quotas. Sales are completely prohibited to Muslims and restricted around Muslim religious holidays and Fridays.

banned

Labels on domestically produced or permitted spirits must specify manufacturer name, volume, batch details, alcoholic strength (% ABV), and clear indicators that the product is intended strictly for non-Muslim permit holders; provincial excise transport verification passes apply.

banned

Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) sets national food and beverage technical guidelines; distilled spirits (PMFL) produced under excise supervision typically observe British and regional standards (standard 40% to 42.8% ABV / 75° proof).

Muslim residential zones, military cantonments without specific authorization, and districts subject to local administrative or court bans (such as periodic closures of licensed shops in Gwadar following community protests).

• Balochistan High Court and district administration handled continuous legal disputes regarding the closure and temporary reopening of minority-operated retail wine shops in Gwadar following local civil protests.
• Excise authorities and maritime forces intensified anti-smuggling enforcement operations targeting illegal foreign liquor shipments off the Balochistan coast (Gadani/Makran).

Direct commercial export opportunities for foreign distillers are essentially non-existent due to Pakistan's statutory import ban on alcoholic beverages. Foreign brands can only enter the market through heavily restricted duty-free diplomatic sales or licensed bonded channels supplying privileged foreign entities.

• Excise, Taxation and Anti-Narcotics Department, Government of Balochistan
• Federal Board of Revenue (Pakistan Customs)
• Trade Information Portal of Pakistan (Ministry of Commerce)

1. The Baluchistan Excise Regulation, 1915 (Regulation II of 1915)
2. Trade Information Portal of Pakistan - HS 2208 Customs Tariff
3. Pakistan Import Policy Order 2022 - Negative List (Appendix-A)
4. Excise, Taxation & Anti-Narcotics Department, Government of Balochistan