Yes, you can smoke at Allama Iqbal International Airport (LHE) — outdoors on the open-air forecourt in front of the terminal, landside before you pass through security. The terminal building and every airside lounge are smoke-free.
Allama Iqbal International Airport serves Lahore, the cultural capital of Punjab and one of Pakistan’s busiest gateways after Karachi and Islamabad. It is the primary hub for Pakistan International Airlines and a daily stop for Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Etihad and Saudia across the Gulf, Europe and Asia. For a smoker the layout is simple: your only place to light up is landside, out on the kerb, so finish your cigarette before you check in.
Landside Forecourt — Where to Smoke
Smoking at LHE is outdoors and landside only, on the open forecourt and along the kerbside drop-off in front of the departures hall, before the security checkpoint (traveller-reported). There is no painted or signed smoking area, so stand clear of the terminal doors and away from other travellers. This is the last practical spot to smoke, because once you clear security there is nowhere else on site.
Airside and the Lounges — Smoke-Free
Past security and immigration, the concourses, gate areas and washrooms are all non-smoking, and there is no designated airside smoking room at LHE. The airside lounges — the CIP lounge, the PIA Business Plus lounge and the PC Hotel lounge — are all smoke-free; their published facility lists (Priority Pass, American Express) show no smoking room. A connecting passenger who needs a cigarette would have to exit airside, clear immigration, smoke outside the terminal, then re-clear security and immigration to return to the gates — not practical on a short layover.
Pakistan’s Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-Smokers Health Ordinance makes indoor public areas smoke-free nationwide, and LHE’s terminal is run to that rule.
Vaping
Vaping is legal to possess and use in Pakistan. At LHE, treat your e-cigarette exactly like a cigarette: use it outdoors landside only, not inside the terminal building and not airside. Keep vape devices and spare batteries in your hand luggage, never in checked bags, and never vape onboard the aircraft.
Summary
| Area | Smoking | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Landside forecourt (before security) | Yes | Open-air kerb in front of the terminal; no signed area |
| Indoor terminal | No | Concourses, gate areas and washrooms smoke-free |
| After security / airside | No | No designated airside smoking room |
| CIP, PIA Business Plus, PC Hotel lounges | No | All airside lounges smoke-free |
For Pakistan’s airport smoking rules and vaping law, see our Pakistan airport guide.