Dawn Images

Sorry, folks. Starbucks is not coming to Pakistan

It's just wishful thinking gotten out of hand

22 Oct, 2016

It may be every coffee lover's dream, but it isn't coming true yet.

Contrary to rumours on the internet, popular American coffeehouse chain Starbucks is not setting up shop in Pakistan.

In the past fortnight, news of Starbucks' impending arrival has been circulating on social media forums, and fans of the coffee company have been speculating where it's likely to open its first outlet.

This image has been doing the rounds of the internet

Upon enquiry from Starbucks' press management, Images learned that Starbucks has "no plans at this time to open a store in Pakistan."

This isn't the first time wishful thinking has gotten out of hand. There have been strong rumours in the past that a whole bunch of coveted foreign brands' are "coming to Pakistan", from fashion retailers like Zara and Victoria Secret to tech giants like Apple.

Those brands have yet to materialise — and Starbucks won't either. At least, not yet.

Comments

Ebrahim Oct 22, 2016 10:58am

Good , here many people cannot afford clean water, donate money saved to dig wells for them.

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NKAli Oct 22, 2016 11:08am

Why should Starbucks come to Pakistan? To serve the elite? No! Firstly, lets get our act together and proper like the Chinese. Once your act is proper and order;y they will come in WAVES. Yes, that's true! Salams

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nida Oct 22, 2016 11:21am

Why we Indians and Pakistanis take pride in such things . Why can't we have cross border food chains opening in each other's countries. Haldiram's and Bikanerwala from India can open in Lahore and Islamabad and similarly Student biryani and other famous desi food chains from Pakistan can open in Delhi and Mumbai. I am not sure about Pakistan but on the Indian side one can always compare the footfall at Starbucks and Bikanerwala in the software hub in Gurgaon in the Delhi region. Can somebody tell what are the famous food chains in Pakistan, not the burger pizza type but the ones with the desi stuff brought to the international level.

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flavian zargoza Oct 22, 2016 11:21am

Guys you have to realize that coffee is not a TRADITIONAL beverage of Pakistan.... It can for the trendies ,.... Amrica / Kanaada returned etc. as most of the nation still relishes its Chai.. which is easy on the stomach. Not to mention a Pan after that. The south of India does consume a lot of coffee ...as it grows coffee too! Flavian

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salman Oct 22, 2016 11:27am

Bad!

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ISB Oct 22, 2016 11:31am

Gloria jeans in Pakistan is better than star bucks.

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imran Oct 22, 2016 11:50am

thanks God!!! A cuppa Dhaba tea is much better then this over priced capitalistic JUNK!!!

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khusbo Oct 22, 2016 11:59am

@NKAli even chinese coffee house & fast food will think twice

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Abdul Basit Oct 22, 2016 12:10pm

Starbucks uses a lot of sugar in some of their coffee.

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ak Oct 22, 2016 12:26pm

@NKAli Exact to the utmost extent brother.

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dream Oct 22, 2016 12:28pm

good decision

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Arsalan Oct 22, 2016 12:35pm

While I agree wholeheartedly with the other comments,

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Ash Oct 22, 2016 12:41pm

Of course Pakistan doesn't need Zara, Victoria Secret, H&M, Starbucks etc etc. that will generate business and more jobs for locals.....

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ZAFAR Oct 22, 2016 12:54pm

India has over 100 Starbucks stores. Cafe Coffee Day and Barista are available in Pakistan also. They are Indian MNC coffee houses with outlets in USA, Japan, Austria, Czech Republic, Europe, Middle East.

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SAEED MASOOD Oct 22, 2016 01:23pm

There is nothing special about Starbuck...any house wife in Pakistan can make better coffee than Starbuck

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MindShare Oct 22, 2016 01:34pm

A call to create local coffee brand which goes beyond Starbuck in terms of quality and ingredients. Starbucks is no doubt one of the best coffee beverages but it's not the last one.

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jasim Oct 22, 2016 01:37pm

overrated water+coffee flavor trying to sell in overpriced cups and decor

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Skkk Oct 22, 2016 01:58pm

Not good from foreign investment point of view but good for growth of local cofee outlets. We akready have many (coffee pot, coffee planet, coffee place, gloria jeans etc etc)

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Srini Oct 22, 2016 02:17pm

Bangalore City alone has 12 centres at the moment, coffee/snacks are excellent.

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Apoorv Oct 22, 2016 03:12pm

Expensive and waste coffee

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Apoorv Oct 22, 2016 03:12pm

Expensive and over hyped coffee

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Bilal Oct 22, 2016 03:13pm

Star bucks openly supports Israel and give charity to Israeli organisations. Therefore it cannot step it's foot in Pakistan due to fear of any backlash. It should not come to Pakistan and there is not need either.

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Apoorv Oct 22, 2016 03:13pm

@Srini Hyderabad not behind bro

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Muhammad Oct 22, 2016 03:23pm

@Srini and what does that has to do with this article?

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Rashid Sultan Oct 22, 2016 03:28pm

Starbucks serve up rubbish coffee - more like sharbet and not like coffee.

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Tariq, Lahore Oct 22, 2016 03:53pm

We don't need foreign high street brands, just yet, as they they only siphon out of the country badly need funds!

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Amer Rao Oct 22, 2016 04:44pm

How about Canadian Tim Hortons?

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jayramon Oct 22, 2016 04:58pm

Bilal actually raised the most important point below.

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Ijaz Oct 22, 2016 05:06pm

Good, Starbucks are a curse on the world, selling over priced coffee and not paying proportionate taxes. There is a strong 'boycott Starbucks' movement here in Europe

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Faisal Oct 22, 2016 05:19pm

That is not end of the world, they are closing many branches in USA due to low profitability as they are facing strong competition from Mac Donald's coffee which is half of the price. But when it comes to every day brewed coffee, I think McDonald's is just as good as Starbucks, and actually prefer the lighter taste

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sana-1 Oct 22, 2016 05:35pm

@Muhammad Showing their typical behavior....

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Umreekan_Sundi Oct 22, 2016 05:50pm

Most people ruing the fact that Starbucks is not coming to Pakistan never actually had it. First of all we are not big coffee drinkers and when we have it we will have Cappuccino - not exactly a StarBucks speciality. No wonder there are no coffee house chains in Pakistan. We love Tea especially Doodh Patti and the tea or Coffee for that matter that Star Bucks offer is not suited to our taste buds. Their Donuts are good though - but I doubt if just for that they will consider making an investment in Pakistan. Sattar Bukhsh Zinda Bad!

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Jogi Shah Oct 22, 2016 07:03pm

Even a cup of ordinary Nescafe made at home is far better than the cup of over expensive coffee of Starbucks. It is only preferred by teenagers with lot of money to show off. It is not a coffee.

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Ali Zaidi Oct 22, 2016 07:23pm

Thanks Indeed . Its really great we dont wanted a brand to flourish in here whom have had links with the state we officially donot recognize.

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Waqas Shaikh Oct 22, 2016 08:01pm

It is a good news. Pakistanis like chai. We don't need coffee. Also, Starbucks owner is the biggest supporter of Israel.

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Waqas Shaikh Oct 22, 2016 08:04pm

@nida Very good point and well said. Alll these foreign food chains poison our culture and heritage. Sub-Continent cuisines are best in the world. They are healthy and tasy. Western food s are junk.

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Syed - Canada. Oct 22, 2016 08:12pm

APPLE is always welcome.ONLY.

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Thoroughthinker Oct 22, 2016 08:12pm

@nida : We have Sattar Bux to counter Star Bucks!

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Prateik Oct 22, 2016 08:28pm

Not enough branded coffee lovers in Pakistan. Good business decision by Starbucks.

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SIAK Oct 22, 2016 09:01pm

So what?! It's over rated.

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Adeel Oct 22, 2016 09:20pm

I don't think Starbucks should be open in Pakistan. For me living abroad gave me ideas as what needs to be opened in Pakistan; as we know due to climate change we need to open more local frozen yogurt shops which can be easily affordable to everyone, rest milkshakes shops can be a good idea etc etc. Reason why I am saying is that, Coffee is good for those places where you have severe cold weather. Coffee is really strong and in Pakistan I don't think its a good idea to open any coffee shops.

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Syam Oct 22, 2016 09:38pm

I remembering a proverb, if we cannot catch grapes then we think that they are sour

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Mango man Oct 22, 2016 09:50pm

@Abdul Basit Doubt if you have been to Starbucks. Sugar pouches you mix according to your own taste. Even sugar free sweeteners are available on demand for diabetes patients.

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Harry Oct 22, 2016 10:25pm

Come on guys. International brands give employment and also pays tax. Tax money cash be used for poors and for better infrastructure.

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Jani Basha Oct 22, 2016 10:31pm

Very much disappointed, even a coffee shop is reluctant to start business in Pakistan.

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Bashu Oct 22, 2016 10:46pm

Comments pouring in when known that STARBUCKS is not coming. Earlier it was euphoria. Coffee is not only the product STARBUCKS sell, there are lot of other eatables, fast foods, tea, cool drinks, biscuits, chips etc.etc. What is attractive is its elegance. Cold coffee is very tasty and people keep it in their cars sipping now and then.

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parveez shafi Oct 22, 2016 11:11pm

Good they it coming Our elite think anything from the west is worth paying 5 to 10 times more. This is not the case. Visiting Pakistan all those years ago. Everyone would invite me to KFC. Which I hated, and told them so. But for the Pakistani it was the place to be seen

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javed helali Oct 22, 2016 11:18pm

Good. a part of their profits go to Israel. Tmmy Hilfiger is another one.

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Abc Oct 23, 2016 12:22am

@nida haldiram and bikanerwaala are pure vegetarian... I wonder... How thye will runn in Pakistan.

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Arshad Oct 23, 2016 12:43am

In West, serious coffee drinker never steps in at Starbucks !

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INDIAN CITIZEN Oct 23, 2016 01:15am

Took my girlfriend to star bucks out of curiosity once and ended up paying 560 rupees (875 PKR) for 2. Never going back there again.

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Rajan Oct 23, 2016 01:45am

Ghanta Ayega. !!! I knew it, it was a joke. Talking about Apple, Pakistan doesn't deserve to have this rich outlet, brother they want money, they don't donate it.

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Ali Oct 23, 2016 01:51am

Keep out the US capitalist cannibals. You're stronger when you take pride in your own culture and stand on your own feet.

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Muhammad Oct 23, 2016 01:53am

@Amer Rao I would love to see that (timmys) opening in pakistan

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Ali Vazir Oct 23, 2016 02:19am

For the info of coffee lovers, around 50% of Starbucks stock is from Goma, North Kivu, Congo DRC, where I reside. It is said that the lava remains of the frequent volcanic eruptions from Nyiragongo that wiped 50% of Goma in 2002 has special impact on the soil and the coffee grown here is the premium quality. If someone looking for such coffee and other agri products may seek presence here. This country is very rich in minerals and other natural resources. I can always be approached for any assistance for my Pakistani brothers.

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SYED ZAMAN Oct 23, 2016 04:06am

@nida welll said . NIMCO, NIRALA , BBQ Tonight , Kolachi, , Ocean Grill, Arizona Grill , JAson's Steak house , Lal Qila, Cafe Alyntro ,Sattar Buksh, roasters and list goes on too many to name these local joints .As I am from Karachi so these are some of the famous desi joints here and rest of the country Im not tht aware of :)

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Faisal Oct 23, 2016 04:11am

That is great news. Starbucks should never come to Pakistan. They use chemicals in their coffee that gives you cancer. And donate a big part of their profit to Israel. There are two Starbucks in my neighborhood and one in my office building but i I never go there. I love coffee so I buy good quality beans from Columbia or Indonesia and make coffee myself.

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Ram Nath Satya Oct 23, 2016 06:43am

No need for Starbucks. Gloria Jeans, carabu, DD & Tim Horton have much better coffee.

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Khanzada Oct 23, 2016 07:27am

Doodh patti chai >> Starbucks....

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Safdar Oct 23, 2016 07:28am

Our leadership (political and army) should think once about why international brands and investors are not coming to Pakistan despite its huge population and instead prefer Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya or Indonesia. It is the ridiculous level of corruption that does not let anything move for a foreign investor. Think and act before it is too late...

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Indian Oct 23, 2016 07:36am

Why run after American Brands ? Having visited more than 35 countries, I can promise you that 'Cafe Coffee Day" and "Barista", both Indian brands having stores in many countries provide far better coffee compared to Starbucks. Be Desi, Buy Desi. Peace

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Abdullah Oct 23, 2016 07:42am

@SAEED MASOOD don't Pakistani men know how to make a simple coffee?

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sam Oct 23, 2016 10:15am

@Srini Then what are you doing here

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sam Oct 23, 2016 10:25am

Pakistan is more of a Chia drinkers then Coffee, I don't think Starbucks will ever do well in Pakistan. Pakistan has much more tasty things to offer in local Snack shop compared to Starbucks. When I visit Pakistan the last Place I want go is Starbucks .

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Despicable Oct 23, 2016 11:01am

Who cares!!!

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MRM Oct 23, 2016 12:41pm

Pakistan is better off without Starbucks, Starbuks coffee sucks, Tea/Chai is any day better.

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Khurram Mahmood Oct 23, 2016 02:25pm

@Arshad I'm from England and I agree with you.

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Goga Nalaik Oct 23, 2016 05:40pm

I sincerely hope it will not

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Umar Oct 23, 2016 09:16pm

Good for Starbucks !!!

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Ravi Vancouver Oct 24, 2016 04:30am

Pakistan needs outside investment for its growth, wider tax base and most importantly j increase in job opportunities. But Muslim countries' sensitivities to Jews companies can not be ignored. For outside investment to come conducive atmosphere for investment from outside need to be created, better security and easy approval to operate business.

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amin arab Oct 24, 2016 04:45am

Its not that good, I only get it cuz of no other options. Ill take a doodh pati anytime over this

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MSR Oct 24, 2016 05:30am

I dont understand why pakistanis are behaving like "grapes are sour" phenomenon and why some indians here are gloating over the fact that starbucks in not in pakistan and has branches allover India. Just because they are nit here doesnt mean that they will never come to pakistan. They will ultimately come to the country as soon as they feel that it is feasible. It has nothing to do with its affiliation with the west or isreal etc. Had this been the case then many int'l joints like Dunkin donuts, mcdonalds, KFC, Pizza hut, Hardees any many more had not set foot in the country but many of these has been here for over decades.

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Faisal Oct 24, 2016 09:42am

@Umar: Good for Pakistan! Starbucks will not do anything good for Pakistani instead of selling them cancer filled coffee for Rs.500 a cup. And donate all that profit to Israel. Coffee was found in Africa, invented by Arabs and who control all the coffee business? Jewish brands like Starbucks, NesCaffe etc. Starbucks is not even gonna create as many as many local business it will destroy since everything will be important and the cafés are self severd. 5 employees will run on Starbucks that will destroy several local business and dozens of jobs.

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AMY Oct 25, 2016 02:00am

Thank you for this wonderful news! Starbucks uses sub par and over roasted coffee beans. They have marketed themselves really well all over the world but that where it ends. They do not make good coffee. Besides, Pakistan's climate is not suitable for coffee drinks. We would rather give our money to the chai wallas!

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Mangolap Oct 25, 2016 08:30am

@Abdul Basit no they don't! In hot coffees you have to add sugar separately! In cold coffees you can ask them to add less or more! I don't understand how told you about a lot of sugar unless you are talking about their off the shelf cold storage products?

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Wow Oct 25, 2016 11:31am

As a Canadian, I can say that it's not a big loss at all. Their drinks are just disgusting.

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AliK Oct 25, 2016 09:53pm

When ever riots takes place in Pakistan, the first stores which come under fire are US based retail stores like KFC, McDonalds. So why other big brands like Starbucks, Apple and other will ever come to Pakistan. First we need to improve the law & order situation and then we can hope for these brands to come to Pakistan. Till than, just enjoy Sattarbaksh coffee & Chai.

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Naeem Malik Oct 26, 2016 08:19am

Be grateful for little mercies trust me you do not want to be blighted by corporate Starbucks in your high streets enjoy your chai wala

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