A RECENT report by the UK Department of Health has raised concern on the health hazards associated with shisha (hookah) use. Research showed that people who regularly smoke shisha can suffer from dangerous levels of carbon monoxide (CO) similar to that of inhaling a car exhaust.

According to this report, one session of shisha smoking can result in CO level at least five times higher than the amount inhaled by one cigarette. This high level of CO not only can cause brain damage but may also result in death.

Shisha offers a mixture of crude types of tobacco fermented with fruits and the sweet odour of fruits conceals the natural smell of tobacco's tar and nicotine. A large number of school and college students of both genders belonging to under-18 age group can be seen using shisha at most restaurants and hotels of the country. In fact, every day new shisha cafes are opening up in the country because of its increasing demand by the younger generation.

A research conducted by the Aga Khan University last year showed that over 50 per cent of Karachi youth belonging to various universities were already habitually using shisha. Early this year I sent some packets of shisha powder purchased from a local shop in Karachi to the Harvard School of Public Heath, USA, for its chemical analysis.

Test on the packet confirmed that shisha powder not only contained nicotine but also several other dangerous chemicals including high level of cancer-causing substance called nitrosamines.

In Pakistan tobacco sale is prohibited by law to anybody under the age of 18. Smoking is also prohibited at all public places, including hotels and restaurants. It is indeed sad that by allowing cigarette and shisha smoking in these closed premises, the anti-smoking laws of the country are being openly violated by almost all hotels and restaurants in the country. I have written several letters to the ministry of health in this regard but so far no action has been taken.

A university student addicted to shisha, who came to me for help recently, said that shisha smoking was more than a fashion and described this as a status symbol for the younger generation.

This increasing use of shisha smoking among the most vulnerable groups is likely to become a serious public health issue of Pakistan in a very near future. Research has shown that people who use shisha are more likely to become regular cigarette smokers. Our health authorities must take notice of the current situation and put a complete ban on serving Shisha at any hotel or restaurants in the country.

JAVAID A. KHAN

Aga Khan University

Karachi