Cattle market offers flavours of shisha with a whiff of dung

Smoking shisha is banned in the province under section 144 of the Pakistan Penal Code

KARACHI: Next time you head to the animal market in Sohrab Goth, don't forget to inhale the double apple or watermelon flavours at shisha café set up inside the cattle market.

The Sindh government has been active against shisha cafés in the city. At such a time, the younger crowd has yet another reason to throng Asia's largest market for sacrificial animals: the shisha café facility costing Rs1 million set up in the market operated under the Malir Cantonment Board.

According to the contractor of the cafe, Ayaz, around 600 yards have been provided to the renowned shisha café in the city, D Lounge, in exchange of Rs1 million. He said that around 60 wooden tables with two pillows on each have been placed to facilitate the smokers. "Shishas with different flavours, along with zinger burgers, French fries and drinks will also be available," he said. "There will be a full party environment at the animal market."

Interestingly, the Sindh government had banned smoking shisha in the province under section 144 of the Pakistan Penal Code in March, 2012, following the Sindh Assembly's resolution against smoking shisha at restaurants or public places in May, 2011.

Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui said that he will immediately ask the Cantonment Board, Malir, to take the shisha café down. "It is not good for health. How can we engage our youth in such bad activities?" he responded harshly.

Meanwhile, the administrator of the animal market, Rana Imran, and CEO of Malir Cantonment Board, Sardar Asif Sultan, could not be contacted.

Play land and food court

In order to lure more people towards the cattle market, the authorities, for the first time, have established a play land as well as a food court for customers in the market. According to the media coordinator of the animal market, Iftikhar Khan, fast food joints such as KFC and McDonalds will also set up their stalls in the food court by September 5 when the market will be formally inaugurated.

Disgruntled swing owner

Meanwhile, the owner of the huge swings at the cattle market's play land was unhappy. A middle-aged man, Hakim Ali Rajput, has brought huge swings all the way from Okara to the cattle market, which has cost him around Rs0.5 million.

He said he was not very optimistic about making huge profits. He was displeased with the authorities for providing him space in the far end of the animal market. "Who would come to my play land? It's at the end of the market," he said.

According to him, he has been waiting for the last five days to start his play land, but authorities did not allow him. Rajput offers a huge Ferris wheel, well of death, Bhoot Bangla and Mumtaz Begum from Okara and has also arranged a mini-zoo to entertain children. He said that he will charge Rs30 to Rs50 for different swings. "This is a very nominal price that I am charging," he said. "I also have to cover the cost of bringing these swings here."

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2015.