Toxic liquor kills 18 in two days

At least 18 people have died after drinking toxic liquor in Karachi – Pakistan’s biggest city.

Seventeen of the deaths occurred within 24 hours with eight more patients said to be in a “critical condition” at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Hospital (JPMC), according to reports in the Express Tribune.

Many of the victims were were brought in dead to a government hospital, according to reports by Gulf News, having been poisoned by methanol, a key ingredient used by unlicensed brewers to make illegal alcohol.

Selling and buying alcohol is prohibited in the Islamic Republic, however the government issues licences to a few outlets to cater to minorities in the country.