- Title: In Karachi, sober raves offer Gen Z a new kind of nightlife
- Date: 13th February 2026
- Summary: KARACHI, PAKISTAN (JANUARY 28, 2026) (REUTERS) ENTRANCE OF KARACHI UNIVERSITY SOCIOLOGIST FROM KARACHI UNIVERSITY, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DR. KAUSAR PARVEEN, IN HER OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOCIOLOGIST FROM KARACHI UNIVERSITY, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DR. KAUSAR PARVEEN, SAYING: "They are not going beyond Islam and they are following halal things, no sex, no alcohol. It means
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: Islam clubbing danceparty halal karachi nightlife padel pakistan softclubbing sports
- Location: KARACHI, PAKISTAN
- City: KARACHI, PAKISTAN
- Country: Pakistan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA007496112022026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Under neon lights at an indoor sports club in Karachi, twenty-somethings drifted between glowing courts and a DJ booth, dancing with coffee cups and iced tea in hand.
No alcohol. No drugs. And the music ended promptly at 10 pm.
In Pakistan, a growing number of Gen Z are opting for "sober socialising", joining a global trend as young people increasingly opt for healthier lifestyles.
Here, though, the shift carries an added appeal: Drinking alcohol is illegal for Muslims, who make up the vast majority of Pakistan's population.
They are increasingly turning their backs on the party scene of the past, which often involved underground venues because of the presence of alcohol and drugs, and the risk of running afoul of authorities.
"We used to party in basement, no such vibes like here," said Zia Malik, a software entrepreneur attending the event. "We are seeing padel people, we are connecting, we are building networking as well."
At the sports club, crowd numbers were capped. Between breaks in dancing, revellers played padel, a cross between squash and tennis popular in Pakistan.
The event's organiser, experiential platform 12xperience, had local government approval to host a public party without alcohol.
Cameras - both wall-mounted and on drones - monitored the crowd to enforce the no-alcohol policy and to deter fights or harassment, organisers said.
"Our job as club owners as people who organise these things is just to create a safe space," said Mohammed Usman, founder of 12xperience.
Events like this are popping up across the city of nearly 19 million in growing numbers, mainly at sports facilities and coffee shops, but also at venues such as art galleries and co-working spaces.
Euromonitor data shows Pakistan's soft drinks market grew more than 27% between 2020 and 2025, and hot drinks - a category that includes coffee - expanded by a similar margin.
While that mirrors a global trend in young people drinking less, Pakistan's shift has outpaced mature markets such as the United States and Britain, where non-alcoholic beverage volumes have grown only modestly.
Sociologist Kausar Parveen said the change shows how young Pakistanis have put a modern spin on adapting to the country's Islamic norms, rather than being a sign they are rejecting them.
Women-only events are also increasing in popularity, in a country where gender mixing carries cultural stigmas.
Price is something of an issue: Tickets typically cost between 3,000 and 7,000 Pakistani rupees ($10.73 to $25.04) in a country where entry-level monthly salaries tend to be 30,000 to 40,000 rupees, making a single night out a significant expense.
Even so, sober raves have become a significant - and very visible - outlet for Pakistan's youth.
At the sports club, well-dressed lifestyle bloggers and social media influencers posted photos and videos in real time, something unlikely at parties involving alcohol.
(Production: Waseem Sattar, Yawar Afzal Malik, Phyllis Xu) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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