Himalaya

Series: Himalaya
Chapter: Day 24: Rawalpindi
Country/sea: Pakistan
Place: Rawalpindi
Book page no: 51

Day 24: Rawalpindi

Filling in the forms at Flashman’s Hotel.

Minoo would make a good don. He is slightly stooped, and a large pair of glasses with thick lenses gives him an owlish air. He's soft-voiced, courteous, a touch pedantic and very much at home in a well-worn rattan chair.

His Muslim brew master, Muhammed Javed, has been here 17 years. More in the mould of the modern executive, he's a genial, youthful-looking man with degrees from universities in the Punjab and America.

His enthusiasm for the production of alcohol is abundant. He walks me past the beer production line, enthusing over the current output of 10,000 bottles an hour ranging from high strength Millennium at 7.5% alcohol, through the popular and medal-winning Murree Classic at 5.5 to a Pils Light at 3.5.

This selfless Muslim workforce also produces 20 brands of spirit including gin and vodka.