In Karachi, sober raves offer Gen Z a new kind of nightlife

By Ariba Shahid

KARACHI, Feb 13 (Reuters) – Under neon lights at an indoor sports club in Karachi, young people in their twenties drifted between the glowing courts and the DJ booth, dancing and clutching coffee cups and iced teas.

No alcohol. No drugs. And the music ended promptly at 22:00.

A growing number of Gen Zers in Pakistan are opting for “sober socialising”, joining a global trend as young people increasingly opt for healthier lifestyles.

But this change has another appeal: Drinking alcohol is illegal for Muslims, who make up the vast majority of Pakistan’s population.

PARTY WITHOUT SPILLING

They are increasingly turning their backs on the party scene of the past, which often included underground venues, because of the presence of alcohol and drugs and the risk of running afoul of the authorities.

“There are not many places in Karachi where we can have a social presence,” said software entrepreneur Zia Malik, who attended the event. “This gives you that without having to hide.”

“I visited some underground parties,” he added. “You can’t feel safe.”

Spectator numbers are limited in the sports club. Between dance breaks, revelers played padel, a mixture of squash and tennis popular in Pakistan.

The event’s organizer, experimental platform 12xperience, received approval from the local government to host an alcohol-free public party.

CREATING A SAFE SPACE

Organizers said cameras, both wall-mounted and on drones, monitor the crowd to enforce the no-alcohol policy and deter fighting or harassment.

“Without guardrails, you are recreating the same risks that people are trying to avoid,” said Muhammad Usman, founder of 12xperience.

“This is about creating a space where people feel safe,” he said. “No alcohol, no drugs, no chaos.”

Events like this are held in venues such as art galleries and co-working spaces, especially sports facilities and cafes, in the city of approximately 19 million people, whose number is increasing.

Euromonitor data shows Pakistan’s soft drinks market growing by more than 27% between 2020 and 2025, with hot drinks, a category that also includes coffee, growing by a similar margin.

While this reflects the global trend of young people drinking less, Pakistan’s shift has outpaced mature markets such as the US and Britain, where soft drink volumes have increased marginally.

PARTY WITHIN THE BORDERS OF ISLAM

Sociologist Kausar Parveen said that rather than being a sign that young Pakistanis are rejecting the country’s Islamic norms, it shows how they are taking a modern approach to adapting to the country’s Islamic norms.

“They don’t go beyond religion, but they reshape how social life happens,” said Parveen, an associate professor at the University of Karachi.

In a country where gender mixing carries cultural stigma, women-only events are also growing in popularity.

“For many women, nightlife comes with conditions, like who is there, how late they stay, how visible they are,” said comedian and influencer Amtul Bajwa, who hosts a women-only desi music night at her café at Third ‌Culture Coffee‌ in Karachi.

“It was about creating a space where women could relax without having to negotiate those things.”

OPTIONS OPEN TO WOMEN ONLY

Pakistani and Indian music was played as women danced to desi tracks without reservation and the event ended at 9 pm sharp.

“You don’t have to worry about who’s watching,” said Fatima, who did not share her last name because her family did not know she was participating. “Finishing early makes it easier to go home.”

Bajwa has also hosted numerous coffee parties for both genders and recently held a silent disco at her café, but said there was a special demand for women-only events.

Price is a major consideration: In a country where entry-level monthly salaries are typically 30,000 to 40,000 rupees, tickets typically range from 3,000 to 7,000 Pakistani rupees ($10.73 to $25.04), making a single night a serious expense.

Even so, sober praise has become an important and very visible outlet for Pakistani youth.

At the sports club, well-dressed lifestyle bloggers and social media influencers posted photos and videos in real time; This was something that was unlikely at parties involving alcohol.

“It’s more accessible to the masses,” said Shah Zaib, a 27-year-old data analyst who attended the third such event.

“I love the fact that it’s not underground anymore.”

($1 = 279.5000 Pakistani rupees)

(Reporting by Ariba Shahid in Karachi Editing by Kevin Buckland)