Islamabad Orders Daily Crackdown on Sheesha Cafes, Cancels All NOCs
District administration seals several more establishments and confiscates equipment as deputy commissioner orders daily inspections, mandatory reports and strict enforcement across the federal capital.
ISLAMABAD: October 16, 2026: The Islamabad district administration has intensified its citywide crackdown on sheesha cafes, sealing multiple establishments and confiscating equipment during operations conducted on Thursday night in compliance with Islamabad High Court (IHC) directives.
According to the district administration, enforcement teams carried out inspections at different locations across the federal capital, taking action against establishments operating in violation of the court’s directions.
Several cafes were sealed during the latest operations, while equipment found at the premises was taken into custody. The administration has not specified the exact number of establishments sealed or provided a detailed inventory of the confiscated items in its latest update.
Deputy Commissioner Orders Daily Operations
The Deputy Commissioner Islamabad has instructed all assistant commissioners to conduct operations against sheesha cafes on a daily basis within their respective jurisdictions.
All assistant commissioners have also been directed to submit daily reports detailing enforcement activities and compliance with the court’s orders.
According to the administration, the instructions are intended to ensure consistent monitoring and the effective implementation of judicial directions throughout Islamabad.
Officials have been instructed to undertake enforcement measures without discrimination, with the restrictions covering both indoor and outdoor sheesha operations.
All Previously Issued NOCs Cancelled
The district administration has confirmed that all previously issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) permitting sheesha cafe operations have been cancelled following the Islamabad High Court’s directions.
The restrictions apply to all establishments offering sheesha services, regardless of whether they previously possessed administrative permission.
Authorities have maintained that no distinction will be made between indoor and outdoor operations when enforcing the court’s orders.
Islamabad High Court’s Directions
The latest enforcement campaign follows the Islamabad High Court’s October 14 directions ordering the closure of sheesha cafes across the federal capital until an appropriate regulatory framework is introduced.
Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar issued the directions during proceedings concerning the legal status and regulation of sheesha establishments in Islamabad.
The court questioned the operation of such businesses without an established regulatory framework and directed the relevant authorities to withdraw previously granted permissions.
During the proceedings, government representatives informed the court that proposed regulations had been prepared and forwarded for approval.
The court directed that sheesha cafe operations should remain suspended until the required rules and regulations are formulated.
Enforcement Operations Continue Across Islamabad
Following the court’s directions, the district administration began taking action against establishments across the capital.
In an earlier operation, the Assistant Commissioner Shalimar sealed four sheesha cafes in Sector E-11 as part of the initial enforcement measures.
The latest inspections represent a continuation of that campaign, with the administration expanding its monitoring and reporting arrangements.
Officials have reiterated that the court’s directions will be implemented across all relevant areas of the federal capital without preferential treatment.
With daily inspections and mandatory reporting now ordered, the district administration intends to maintain enforcement while the government works on the regulatory framework required under the court’s directions.
