The Punjab government has denied issuing a license to a company to establish a liquor bar at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport.
Spokesperson to Chief Minister of Punjab, Dr. Shahbaz Gill, released a video statement late on Thursday refuting the media reports in this regard.
He clarified that an under-construction hotel near the airport had sought government’s permission, which was granted after all the legal requirements.
“This is not something new, all the major hotels in the country have the permit under the law,” Gill stated.
He went on to say that the airport comes under the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and that the provincial government has no control over it.
Earlier, several news outlets had reported that CM Buzdar had received a summary for final approval which already has got NOC from no objection certificates (NOC) from Punjab Excise & Taxation Department, police as well from the district administration.
A few websites went a step further to claim that CM Punjab had approved the summary.
At the moment, only four high-end hotels in the metropolitan city have the license to sell alcoholic drinks under L2 licenses. These hotels include Holiday Inn, Pearl Continental, Avari and Ambassador Hotel.
After the approval, Unicorn Prestige Limited has become the fifth license-holder for alcohol sale in the province.
It should be mentioned here that under the law of the land, only non-Muslim citizens or non-Muslim foreigners are allowed to purchase and consume liquor from permitted suppliers.