Islamabad administration imposes an immediate ban on all shisha cafes following an Islamabad High Court order to seal the establishments and frame formal rules.
Web Desk: The Islamabad administration has imposed an immediate ban on all shisha cafes in the federal capital, including establishments holding no-objection certificates (NOCs), following directions from the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon announced the ban on Wednesday, saying it would remain in effect until further orders and was being implemented in compliance with the high court’s directions.
Under the order, indoor, outdoor and NOC-holding shisha cafes are prohibited from conducting shisha-related business. Authorities have warned that violations could lead to the sealing of the establishment and registration of a case against its owner.
Islamabad High Court orders action against shisha cafes
The development followed a hearing before IHC Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar on petitions concerning shisha cafes in Islamabad.
During the hearing, the chief justice observed that shisha cafes could not continue operating without proper rules and regulations. He directed the authorities to seal all shisha cafes in the capital.
The court also directed the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration to formulate formal rules for shisha cafes within one month.
The hearing was later adjourned for one month to allow authorities to frame the required regulations.
Daily inspections ordered
The Islamabad administration said Assistant Commissioners would conduct daily inspections to ensure compliance with the ban.
The deputy commissioner warned that enforcement would be carried out without discrimination and that violations could result in both sealing of cafes and legal action against their owners.
Islamabad Police Inspector General Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi told the court that action had already been taken against shisha cafes following the court’s directions.
He also said authorities had faced resistance from some cafe owners and had launched an awareness campaign concerning shisha cafes.
What about shisha cafes with NOCs?
The administration’s written response to the court said temporary NOCs had been issued to shisha cafes pending formal legislation by the federal government.
However, the latest court direction and subsequent administrative order mean that even cafes holding NOCs are currently prohibited from operating.
The administration said the NOCs had been issued without fees and that existing high court principles had been used as the basis for issuing them.
Fire safety and other restrictions
The administration also highlighted fire-safety concerns associated with shisha cafes, particularly the unsafe storage of coal and related equipment.
It said fire-safety and fire-prevention measures were mandatory for restaurants, while inspection teams were responsible for checking fire extinguishers and other safety requirements.
According to the administration’s response, shisha and other tobacco products could only be served to adults, while environmental standards were also required to be maintained.
It further stated that serving shisha inside restaurants or in covered areas, including rooftops, was already prohibited under the existing framework.
Ban remains an interim arrangement
The Islamabad administration described the latest restrictions as an interim arrangement.
The measures will remain in force until the federal government establishes formal rules governing shisha cafes.
The IHC has given authorities one month to formulate those rules, meaning the current ban could be reviewed once the regulatory framework is presented to the court.
