Preventing use of sheesha top priority: Health Secretary

ISLAMABAD: The Health Secretary told the Supreme Court that preventing the use of sheesha was the top priority of the cabinet, on Tuesday. 

A three-member bench, presided by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, resumed hearing of the sheesha ban on Tuesday. The bench was particularly unhappy over the dismal situation that had arisen due to the sheesha ban, as he remarked that the ban had promoted bribe and dishonesty in Sindh. He issued instructions for officials to ensure sheesha was banned in Pakistan. 

The absence of the Commerce Secretary from the hearing also irked the bench. 

"Under which law has he left the country and why did he not seek the permission of the Supreme Court?" inquired Justice Ameer Hani Muslim. 

Meanwhile, the Health Secretary stated that it was the top priority of the cabinet to prevent the use of sheesha among Pakistanis. He said that a summary seeking a ban on the import of sheesha items was pending the PM's approval. 

The Supreme Court stressed on implementation of its orders regarding the ban on sheesha at the provincial level and demanded a report by the next hearing on the progress made in this regard.

Also, the apex court issued a show-cause notice to the Commerce Secretary.