LAHORE – Vape businesses win interim relief in legal battle against the Punjab Government as Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz led administration directed action against pods and vaping devices in the region.
The temporary relief comes as at more than 70 Vape shop owners approached Lahore High Court after province-wide crackdown led to the sealing of their businesses. The court granted interim relief and ordered the reopening of shops until further notice.
LHC Justice Anwar Hussain issued a temporary stay on the Punjab government’s ongoing crackdown against vape shops, providing much-needed relief to e-cigarette and vaping businesses across the country’s most populated region.
The court ordered authorities to de-seal all vape shops and refrain from further action until the case is fully heard. The court also directed Punjab administration to avoid any coercive measures during this interim period.
Vape Ban Update in Punjab
The petition names Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) as respondents. During proceedings, the government’s legal counsel was unable to present a clear legal basis for the crackdown and requested additional time to file a detailed response. The court adjourned the hearing until July 3, 2025.
This development comes in the wake of a province-wide ban on the sale and use of vapes, announced earlier this month by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. In a recent cabinet meeting, she expressed serious concern over the growing use of e-cigarettes among youth and called it a public health emergency.
Punjab govt started action, saying increasing use of vapes among young people poses a serious health threat. This step is aimed at protecting our youth from long-term addiction and diseases. For now, vape businesses in Punjab received a temporary reprieve, but the legal battle over the future of e-cigarettes in the province is far from over.
