ISLAMABAD:In a critical development for public health and tobacco control in Pakistan, a high-level delegation from the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and Blue Veins met with senior political leader and Member of the National Assembly Farooq Sattar to raise urgent concerns regarding the potential reversal of the Sheesha (hookah) ban in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). The meeting highlighted the growing tension between public health imperatives and commercial pressures from the hospitality industry and Sheesha interest groups.
The delegation presented major arguments on the impact of all tobacco and nicotine products especially Sheesha on the youth and children and an alarming trajectory of the issue. Currently, Sheesha smoking is strictly banned across Pakistan under a Supreme Court order. However, public health advocates have raised the alarm that the Minister for Health, (representing Mr. Sattar's political party) is reportedly considering granting permissions for Sheesha establishments in Islamabad. This proposed re-enactment is allegedly being pushed under intense pressure from Sheesha lounge owners and the broader hospitality industry, effectively asking the government to bypass court directives.
During the meeting, the team detailed the severe public health consequences of Sheesha consumption, particularly its devastating impact on youth and children. They explained that Sheesha is not a safer alternative to any healthy activity; a single session can expose users to toxic levels of carbon monoxide, heavy metals, and carcinogens, often equivalent to smoking dozens of cigarettes. Furthermore, they emphasized that the sharing of pipes and communal smoking environments exacerbate the transmission of infectious diseases, creating a secondary public health crisis.
The advocates stressed that any move to allow Sheesha in the capital would directly contradict the country's existing legal framework and undermine years of progress in tobacco control, besides opening the doors for provinces to follow the suit. It would also violate Pakistan's commitments under the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), particularly Article 5.3, which obligates states to protect public health policies from the commercial and vested interests of the tobacco industry.
Farooq Sattar received the briefing with seriousness, recognizing the urgency and depth of the public health crisis. He acknowledged the substantial risks posed by all tobacco and nicotine products and firmly insisted that children must be kept away from these harmful substances at all costs.
Responding to the grave concerns raised by health experts, Farooq Sattar assured the delegation that he would personally take up this issue with the Minister for Health. He promised to use his good understanding of public health concerns and discuss the scientific and public health evidence with the Minister and attempt to convince him to uphold the Supreme Court's ban, resisting the pressure from the hospitality industry.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to prioritize the health and well-being of Pakistan's youth and general public over commercial interests. SDPI continues to urge policymakers and lawmakers to remain vigilant against industry interference and to strictly enforce existing tobacco control laws to secure a healthier, safer future for the nation.