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LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has upheld the decision of the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) to deny restoration of airport entry pass and taxi sticker to taxi drivers at Allama Iqbal International Airport, ruling that access to restricted airport premises is a regulated privilege rather than a vested legal right.
Justice Raheel Kamran passed a verdict on a petition filed by Allah Bakhsh and others, challenging an order of the airport manager dated Nov 27, 2025, refusing to restore their airport entry pass and taxi sticker.
The petitioners had also alleged favouritism, monopoly and discriminatory treatment in the operation of airport taxi services, seeking directions from the court to ensure equal business opportunities for all lawful taxi operators at the airport.
The petitioners had previously operated as taxi drivers at the airport and had been issued entry passes and taxi stickers. After these permissions were withdrawn, they approached the high court, which directed the airport manager to decide their pending application after granting them a hearing.
