DACCA: East Pakistan will go completely “dry” by March 31, 1950 at the latest. This was announced by the East Pakistan Pre­m­ier, Mr Nurul Amin, in the East Pakistan Assembly tonight [March 28] during the course of a debate on budget demand, under the head excise, for Rs 15,84,000, moved by Mr Hamidul Haq Choudhry, Finance Minis­ter which the House passed. The Premier added that the implementation of prohibition would commence immediately and no fresh licences for sale of indigenous or foreign liquor be issued after Thursday next.

“My Government have decided that drinking be stopped altogether,” the Premier declared. Exceptions will be made in case of foreigners but not Muslims, and such persons for whom drink was not forbidden by religion.

The Premier informed the House that attempts would be made to close as many liquor shops as possible before March 31, 1950. This would apply to those dealers also whose licences do not expire by that date. The estimated loss to the Provincial Government as a result of enforcement of prohibition would be Rs 48 lakhs on liquor alone. — News agencies

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2024