Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court on Wednesday ordered all shisha cafés in the federal capital to close until new rules are introduced, directing authorities to withdraw their existing no objection certificates.

Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar issued the directions while hearing a petition against illegally operating shisha centres. A detailed written order will follow.

The district administration subsequently sealed four cafés in E 11 and directed assistant commissioners to enforce the closure across their jurisdictions, covering indoor and outdoor establishments.

The decision followed an earlier hearing at which government counsel said draft regulations had been submitted for approval. The chief justice questioned why cafés continued operating without an adequate regulatory framework and sought assurances from senior officials against illegal operations.

The health risks extend beyond the tobacco itself. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), smoke passing through water still contains toxic substances, including carbon monoxide, metals and chemicals that can cause cancer. Water does not make shisha a safe alternative to cigarettes.

Charcoal used to heat the mixture adds further pollutants. People nearby can inhale smoke from both the tobacco and the fuel, exposing café workers and other customers as well as smokers. WHO warns that this exposure is particularly harmful to children and can adversely affect pregnancy.

Tobacco shisha also delivers addictive nicotine. Its use is associated with respiratory illness, heart disease and cancer, while lengthy sessions can involve substantial smoke exposure.

Products marketed as herbal or tobacco free are not harmless: heating them can still produce toxic emissions. Sharing inadequately cleaned hoses and mouthpieces can also transmit infections, and a disposable tip alone does not remove contamination elsewhere in the equipment.