Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department of the Punjab government has informed the Supreme Court (SC) that 177 cases have been registered so far against those involved in sheesha smoking after imposition of a ban on sheesha/hookah smoking at public places like hotels, parks, cafes and clubs.

The deputy secretary (technical) of the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department compiled the compliance report in pursuance of a suo motu notice taken by the Supreme Court about the use of tobacco in Pakistan.

Sheesha, an evolved form of hookah, is a single stemmed instrument for smoking flavoured tobacco such as mint or chocolate, whose vapour or smoke is passed through a water basin before inhalation.

On November 5, a three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali heard a case against illegal sheesha cafes in the country and directed all provincial governments to start a crackdown on sheesha cafes and submit a report on the measures taken by the officials to curb sheesha smoking.

The report of the healthcare department said that an effective awareness campaign about harmful effects of sheesha on smokers’ health was being run through different medias. It said the Punjab Prohibition of Sheesha Smoking Bill was in the process of legislation and its draft was sent to the Home Department for a review. Later, according to the report, the draft bill was sent to the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department for necessary amendments. The report said that the draft bill had been submitted to a standing committee of the Punjab Assembly that would discuss it at its next meeting.

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmad heard the case on Thursday.

During the hearing, a law officer from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assured the court of legislation for a complete ban on sheesha smoking in the province. He said the provincial assembly had passed the bill for the prevention of sheesha smoking and now rules were being framed for this purpose.

Deputy Attorney General Sohail Mehmood informed the court that the health ministry had sent its recommendations to the ministry of commerce for a complete ban on the import of sheesha and other ingredients. The bench observed that the steps taken by the governments for prevention of tobacco and sheesha use were inadequate. The bench directed the federal government, provincial governments and inspectors general of police to submit reports on the issue. The court adjourned the hearing for four weeks.