In the heart of Karachi, twenty-somethings moved between glowing padel courts and a DJ booth, coffee cups and iced tea in hand, enjoying music that ended promptly at 10 p.m.—without a drop of alcohol or drugs in sight.
This is part of a growing trend of “sober socialising” among Pakistan’s Generation Z, who are increasingly choosing healthier lifestyles while adhering to the country’s Islamic prohibition on alcohol for Muslims.
A Party Scene Without the Pour
Young Pakistanis are turning away from underground nightlife, historically associated with illicit alcohol, drugs, and security risks.
“In Karachi, we don’t have many places to just exist socially,” said Zia Malik, a software entrepreneur attending one such event. “This gives you that without having to hide.”
The gathering was organised by experiential platform 12xperience, which received government approval to host a public, alcohol-free event. Crowd numbers were capped, and participants took breaks to play padel, a sport blending squash and tennis, under the watch of wall-mounted and drone cameras to ensure safety.
Creating Safe, Inclusive Spaces
“Without guardrails, you’re just recreating the same risks people are trying to escape,” said Usman Ahmad, founder of 12xperience. “This is about creating a space where people feel safe. Without alcohol, without drugs, without chaos.”
Sober events are proliferating across Karachi’s nearly 19 million residents, hosted in sports clubs, coffee shops, co-working spaces, and art galleries. Euromonitor data shows Pakistan’s soft drinks market grew more than 27% between 2020 and 2025, with hot beverages, including coffee, expanding similarly.
Adapting Social Life Within Islamic Norms
Sociologist Kausar Parveen, an associate professor at the University of Karachi, said the trend reflects how young Pakistanis are modernising social life without stepping outside Islamic norms.
“They are not going beyond religion, but reframing how social life happens,” she said.
Women-only events are also rising in popularity, offering a rare space for gender-specific nightlife in a society where mixed-gender socialising can carry cultural stigma. Comedian and influencer Amtul Baweja, hosting one such women-only music night, said the events allowed women to relax without negotiating safety, visibility, or social boundaries.
A Visible, Growing Trend
Tickets for sober raves typically range from 3,000 to 7,000 Pakistani rupees ($11–$25), a notable cost in a country where entry-level salaries hover around 30,000 to 40,000 rupees per month. Despite this, the events are increasingly popular and highly visible, attracting lifestyle bloggers and social media influencers who share live updates from the gatherings.
“I love the fact that it’s not underground anymore,” said Shah Zaib, a 27-year-old data analyst attending his third sober event.
(with inputs from Reuters)
