Lahore administration to start crack down on sheesha, cafes

Lahore administration will start issuing notices to sheesha cafe owners, launch campaign against sheesha smoking.

LAHORE: Even as the Lahore High Court hears a petition on the potential ban for use of sheesha in Punjab, the Lahore district administration has been assigned the task to shut down sheesha smoking.

Sources at the District Commissioner’s Office stated on Thursday that as part of the first phase of the campaign against sheesha, notices will be served to owners of sheesha cafes to stop the service voluntarily. The second phase would involve action against ban violators.

Additionally, the district government would also ensure ban on the use of tobacco, prohibited in government offices, public places and public transport.

DCO Noorul Amin Mengal, during a meeting at his office, also issued directives to launch an awareness campaign regarding bad effects of sheesha on health and environment. He said that after completion of first phase, teams from the environment department will take action against sheesha cafes including sealing sheesha cafes, as per provisions in law.

He said that sheesha cafes have become a cause for social disturbance since those belonging to the younger generations were becoming addicted to drugs.

The meeting was also told that 274 people die daily, and over 5000 are hospitalised due to the usage of tobacco and sheesha in Pakistan, while 1200 youngsters belonging to the six to 15 year age group start smoking or sheesha daily.