The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday sought report from Home Secretary Punjab and Inspector General of Police by March 13 in a writ petition seeking action against cafes and restaurants providing Shisha facilities in the city.
The court also allowed restaurant and café association to become a party in the petition. The petitioner, Society of Alternative Media and Research (SAMAR) through its co-ordinator Khurram Hashmi submitted that SAMAR was working on restricting of Shisha (water pipe smoking), use of which is rising on alarming rate, especially among the youth. He stated that use of tobacco and smoking were very dangerous, which commonly cause a wide variety of diseases, cancer and death. He said Shisha was the latest form of smoking, which is very popular in the youth, male and females. He said the youth students under 18 are also found in Shisha Cafes. The owners and managers provide them Shisha as well as tobacco.
Shisha Cafes exist in abundance everywhere in Lahore and are growing day by day, which is clear violation of Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers Health Ordinance, 2002. The petitioner said the ordinance since its issuance neither was effective nor was being enforced by the government. He, therefore, prayed for directions to the authorities concerned for strict enforcement and compliance of the ordinance.