Lahore airport liquor licence pulled

Hotel being built at airport was controversially granted permission to sell alcohol

LAHORE: The Punjab excise and taxation department has placed restrictions on the sale of alcohol within the limits of Allama Iqbal Airport by revoking the controversial licence granted to an under-construction private hotel. Prime Minister Imran Khan, while taking notice of the licence granted to the hotel allegedly with the help of key political figures of the province – had advised the government to immediately resolve the issue.

Earlier, the excise and taxation department had granted a licence for the sale of alcohol at a private hotel within the limits of Allama Iqbal Airport.

The licence was reportedly issued in haste and without due regard for documentary requirements and formalities.

Lahore Excise and Taxation Officer Masood Bashir had allegedly refused to sign off on the liquor permit, sources said, adding that he had found the entire exercise suspicious. Later, however, another ETO, Muhammad Ali Naveed, signed the documents and issued the licence.

Media reports that followed the issuance of the licence revealed that a key provincial government figure reportedly used his influence to get the permit issued.

Prime Minister Imran Khan, after taking notice of the reports, had demanded details on how the licence was issued while advising the provincial government to revoke the permit to avoid controversy.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2019.