Pakistan: Sheesha Smoking Thrives in Lahore

Source from:  Daily Times  09/30/2013

The number of Sheesha (water-pipe smoking) smokers is increasing in the provincial capital, says a report.

According to an annual report of Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) on drug addiction in Lahore, the total number of Sheesha cafes in Lahore was around 316 while over 189 cafes were sealed by law enforcement agencies. The areas where drugs including Sheesha were still used include Lakshami Chowk, Nisbat Road, Royal Park, Railway Station, Ichchra, Data Darbar, Lower Mall, Old Anarkali, Bund Road, Ali Park, Sultanpura, Faiz Bagh, Ravi Road, Shahdara, Township, Green Town, Johar Town, Chungi Amar Sidhu, Kot Lakhput, Jallo Mor, Gulberg, Garden Town and Alama Iqbal Town while sheesha cafes are mostly in posh areas.

The report mentioned that Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Bahawalpur, Kasur, Attock, Sargodha, Narowal, Khanewal, Okara and Rahim Yar Khan were the worst affected by drug abuse. The report also mentioned the Shahdara incident in which many people had died due to overdose of cough syrup. The role of different provincial government departments is very important to control illegal drugs, the report added. Enditem