{
  "id": 18447405,
  "title": "Move to legalise sheesha lounges in Islamabad opposed",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/06/move-to-legalise-sheesha-lounges-in-islamabad-opposed",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-06T05:06:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2042406/move-to-legalise-sheesha-lounges-in-islamabad-opposed"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Islamabad civil society groups have vehemently opposed any proposal to legalize sheesha smoking, citing the serious health hazards, legal violations, and implications for public health control. Sheesha lounges operating in the capital city would directly contravene Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which obliges member states to safeguard public health from tobacco industry pressures. On Thursday, representatives from the Sustainable Development Policy Institute and Blue Veins met with National Assembly Member Farooq Sattar to raise urgent concerns about a possible reversal of the sheesha ban in Islamabad Capital Territory. The advocates argued that sheesha is no safer than any other activity, with a single session exposing users to toxic levels of carbon monoxide, heavy metals, and carcinogens—often comparable to smoking dozens of cigarettes. They also pointed out that the sharing of pipes and communal smoking environments can increase the spread of infectious diseases, creating a secondary health crisis. Any decision to permit sheesha in the capital would contravene Pakistan’s legal framework and reverse years of tobacco control progress, potentially paving the way for other provinces to follow suit. Currently, sheesha smoking is prohibited across Pakistan under a Supreme Court directive. However, public health officials warn that the Minister for Health, believed to be affiliated with Sattar’s political party, is reportedly considering issuing permits for sheesha establishments in Islamabad, allegedly under pressure from lounge owners and the hospitality sector. The team of public health campaigners detailed the severe health risks associated with sheesha, especially its detrimental effects on youth and children. They emphasized that the Minister has firmly stated that children must be protected from the dangers of tobacco and nicotine products.",
  "summary": "ISLAMABAD: Civil society advocates have strongly opposed any potential move to regularise sheesha smoking in the federal capital, warning that the severe health risks combined with violations of Pakistan’s legal and international treaty obligations would roll back years of progress in tobacco control. Representatives emphasised that allowing sheesha lounges to operate would directly breach…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}