Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination has suggested legalizing sheesha cafes.
All Pakistan Café and Restaurant Association representative, Talha Iqbal, believes that tax of Rs 100 on the sale of sheesha would result in tax collection of millions in a year from just one sheesha cafe.
Talking to a private news channel, the head of the committee, Senator Mian Muhammad Ateeq explained that the government does not benefit from the sales of sheeshas and that despite raids, sheesha restaurants in posh areas keep doing their business. He suggested the representation of the tobacco industry in the committee.
The Senator also added that now the adults bring sheesha to their homes, meaning that all of the family members indirectly smoke. He questioned that if it is not banned in developed countries of the world, why have we banned the use of sheesha.
Due to these reasons, the committee is considering to abolish the ban on sheesha, which would result in tax collection.
The parliamentarian said that they are moving towards a documented economy from a black economy in line with Imran Khan’s vision.