Shezan International

Shezan International Limited (شیزان) is a Pakistani beverage manufacturer based in Lahore. It is one of the biggest food and beverage manufacturers in Pakistan. Two of their most famous brands are All Pure and Twist. This company is a part of Shahnawaz Group and is traded on the Pakistan Stock Exchange.

Since its inception in 1964, Shezan has produced various products including soft drinks, juices, ketchups, and jams. The company is also the single largest grower of mangoes in Pakistan, and employs roughly 1,000 persons. The company is best known for its trademark product, 'Shezan Mango', a mango juice drink popular in Pakistan.

History
Shezan International was incorporated on May 13, 1964 by Chaudhry Shah Nawaz. It was a joint venture between Shahnawaz Group and Amcor. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided a loan of 2.5 million US dollars to support the purchase of necessary equipment.

In 1965, Shezan began test marketing orange juice and established its fruit processing and bottling plant, along with its headquarters, in Lahore. The hot climate in the region initially caused issues with the shelf life of the juice. However, by the end of 1966, these problems were addressed, ensuring the stability of the bottled juice. In 1967, Shezan expanded its product line to include mango, grape, apple, and berry juices.

In 1968, Amcor exited Pakistan and sold its equity Shahnawaz Group. A year later, Shezan introduced Lemon Barley juice.

In 1980–81, a separate unit was installed in Karachi, which now caters for Karachi, Sindh and also meets the export demand. A bottle filling plant was set up in 1983 in Lahore, Punjab. An independent Tetra Brik plant was commissioned in 1987.

In 1989, Shezan was listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange, following an initial public offering at a strike price of ₨38.

In 1990, it was decided to install a juice factory at Hattar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Controversy
Shezan has been the frequent target of controversy due to the Qadiyani affiliation of its owners. Several campaigns led by religious conservatives have in the past targeted Shezan, calling for its boycott, and subsequent ban.

Shezan products ban
In 2012, campaigns by traditionally bright Islamic groups found a more liberal voice, amongst these were lawyers from Lahore Bar Association. Soon thereafter, The Lahore Bar Association also banned Shezan products from its premises and subordinate court complexes, threatening tough actions against anyone found buying the drink. The move came as 100 lawyers unanimously voted for the ban on Shezan drinks and products.

Attacks
As a consequence of the numerous initiatives to boycott Shezan products in systematic anti-Qadiyani campaigns, several attacks have been recorded against Shezan factories. In June 2010, unidentified assailants stormed a Shezan factory after which high-explosive bombs were detonated that left four injured.