Faraz Saeed

LAHORE: At first glance, it looks like the lobby of a five-star hotel. Plush seating, carefully curated d&eacute;cor, and a calm, exclusive atmosphere, nothing about the space immediately signals an airport facility. Yet this is not a luxury hotel.&nbsp; It is the newly inaugurated State Lounge at Allama Iqbal International Airport, developed to cater exclusively to state guests, dignitaries, and VIPs. The lounge has been designed as part of a wider effort to modernize protocol facilities and align Pakistan&rsquo;s aviation infrastructure with international standards.&nbsp; Officials say the objective is clear: provide a secure, efficient, and dignified environment for high-level engagements without disrupting regular airport operations. One of the defining features of the State Lounge is its ability to host up to 60 guests at a time, allowing multiple delegations to be accommodated simultaneously.&nbsp; This capacity, officials note, ensures smoother handling of official visits while maintaining privacy and security protocols. Beyond seating, the facility includes its own dedicated pantry, enabling seamless hospitality services, and a fully functional meeting room, allowing official discussions to take place within the airport premises, along with a separate room for high-level delegation, separate from the main hall of the lounge.&nbsp; These additions are aimed at reducing logistical delays and offering a self-contained protocol environment. Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) Additional Director&nbsp;Kashif Sarwar described the facility as &ldquo;royal in its outlook,&rdquo; adding that comparable spaces are found at major airports in leading Western cities. He said that aircraft carrying dignitaries are connected directly to the aerobridge, which leads straight into the lobby adjoining the State Lounge, ensuring convenience and secure movement, adding that dedicated desks have been established within the lounge to facilitate a smooth immigration process. Kashif Sarwar noted that the renovation work was completed in record time. The renovated State Lounge was formally inaugurated on Jan. 16 by former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President&nbsp;Nawaz Sharif, along with Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. Following the inauguration, the dignitaries toured the facility to review the completed renovation work.&nbsp; Defense Secretary Muhammad Ali welcomed the guests, while Director General Pakistan Airports Authority Air Vice Marshal Zeeshan Saeed briefed attendees on the broader airport upgradation project. According to the briefing, the renovation extended beyond the State Lounge itself. Key areas, including the Ravi Lounge, entrance lobby, main hall, and other sections, were reconstructed and upgraded as part of the scheme.

Economy

State Lounge is one element of a larger strategy to improve passenger services, protocol handling, and infrastructure standards at major airports across the country, a move they believe is essential as Pakistan looks to enhance its aviation footprint.

Articles tagged with "Allama Iqbal International Airport"

A Five-Star welcome: Lahore airport’s new State Lounge