Nawaz reopens Pak Tea House in Lahore

E-Paper | March 18, 2026

Nawaz Sharif shares views with political leaders and intellectuals after inaugurating Pak Tea House in Lahore on Friday. – Photo by Azhar Jafri/WhiteStar

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif on Friday reopened Lahore’s iconic Pak Tea House after 13 years of closure.

The historic tea stall is known as meeting place for intellectuals, poets, writers and artists.

A large number of noted writers and literary figures were present on the occasion.

Nawaz Sharif said he feels immensely proud while reopening Pak Tea House as writers and thinkers serve the nation selflessly. He promised to visit the place again and again to learn from the cultural icons.

Eminent writer Ataul Haq Qasmi said after the closure of Pak Tea House the intellectuals lost a meeting point. But, now the Tea House has been reopened for consultation on all national issues, he added.

Originally set up as the India Tea House by a Sikh family in 1940, the café acquired its current name when, after Partition, it was leased to one Sirajuddin. Situated off The Mall (now Sharae Quaid-e-Azam) near Anarkali bazaar, it holds a special place in the memories of those who know about Lahore’s vibrant literary and cultural past.

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usctrojan1

Mar 08, 2013 08:50pm

Nice! I like this.

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Abu-Salmaan

Mar 09, 2013 01:03am

The idea and the intention seems to be good but security situation in the country is not favorable to bring the intellectuals or other important personalities at one point at the same time. So for their security it will be prudent to drop this idea unless the safety and security of all the citizens is ensured first on long term basis.

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Michael Warner

Mar 09, 2013 12:07am

WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was the place for a common person. People from all walks of life would meet at the PAK TEA HOUSE. It was a very simple and affordable place to hang around. Correspondents,,Journalists,,Sportsmen, Intellectuals, Leaders, Scholars, Students, Government officials and not to forget the city's gossipers. Nawaz Sharif sahib being a Pakistani/Lahori first and leader later has proved he has deep roots with the culture of Lahore. I don't know why it was closed and for 13 years. Anyways another place to hang around in the city of " ZINDA DILAAN-I-LAHORE.

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Gulbagh Singh, Los Angeles

Mar 09, 2013 12:25am

Keep original name as in a few years you will not need to change it again.

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Samia

Mar 08, 2013 11:03pm

Has Nawaz Sharif checked out a website of the same name, Pak Tea house ?

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S. Tanwir Hasan

Mar 09, 2013 02:25am

Well done Mr. Nawaz Sharif. We should appreciate all of your good works

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Awan

Mar 09, 2013 03:25am

I dislike how The Mall has been changed to Sharae Quaid-e-Azam. What is this fascination with renaming everything historic and cultural about our country.

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observer

Mar 09, 2013 03:38am

Worst thing to happen to Pak Tea House is that it is inaugurated back to life by hands of a politician (and Nawaz Sharif at it). So, for the rest of its life, Pak Tea house will have to praise the show-off politician. Disgusting.

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warraich

Mar 09, 2013 07:22am

hahahahah....rightttttt...we'll keep that in mind

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saima

Mar 09, 2013 02:49pm

Thankyou but no thank you.........

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Bill Baloch

Mar 09, 2013 02:51pm

Unfortunately, not in the distant future someone will blame patrons of the joint being unislamic and blasphemous.

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G.A.

Mar 09, 2013 03:28pm

@Awan - Agreed. It's ironic how we love to get the British education and passports and buy flats there but want nothing to do with their history in our part of the world. Perhaps we should get rid of railways, cricket and universities too as they were left here by the British.

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S. Tanwir Hasan

Mar 09, 2013 04:48pm

Further, I would like to comment that Nawaz Sharif is no intellectual but a mere politician. But sitting in the company of Najam Sethi (in picture) may be his intellect improve, but I doubt.

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Rashid Sultan

Mar 09, 2013 05:01pm

In a goodwill gesture and for historical accuracy rename the iconic establishment to its original name: 'India Tea House.' Sounds good to save this piece of history.

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Shahryar Shirazi

Mar 09, 2013 10:01pm

Gulbagh, I thought western exposure has an impact on intellectual thinking. Last time I checked, LA was still in the West ... Shahryar

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1964 Moon

Mar 09, 2013 10:40pm

Working on it already. Will be accomplished soon, Insha Allah.

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Cherian (Melbourne)

Mar 10, 2013 01:14am

Love my Indian Coffee House:-) Best wishes to Pak Tea House

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Pro Truth

Mar 10, 2013 02:46am

Good to see a historic place restored! but sad to see they couldnt find a intellectual to inaugurate it.

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Jeet

Mar 10, 2013 03:31am

Even democracy was left behind by the English.....:)

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Jeet

Mar 10, 2013 03:36am

Gulbaghji,Beg to differ with you on this.In few years, anyway the tea shop will get closed as the Taliban (who will rule at that time ) will say that drinking tea goes against the tenets of Islam.

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dr aisha

Mar 10, 2013 04:13am

They fiddle while Pakistan burns! Karachi and Lahore in flames from blasts and deliberate torching and these politicians are rallying around their own causes.

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KhanChangezKhan

Mar 10, 2013 06:03am

When election is announced, nothing to be done in the interest by politicians, this means a drive to gain political plateform. Reopening of Pak Tea House by Nawaz Shareef is purely based on to gain the political era by the writers and literary figures.

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KhanChangezKhan

Mar 10, 2013 06:07am

Are you a member of Mn? This is completely political issue just to gain the support of writers and literary figures in the forthcoming election??????????????????????

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KhanChangezKhan

Mar 10, 2013 06:15am

Why now? Why not earlier Mr. MW???????????????, because (Mn) Nawaz Shareef wants to gain the support of Correspondents,,Journalists,,Sportsmen, Intellectuals, Leaders, Scholars, Students, Government officials. We warn Nawaz to to play such game, remember you will never be succeed in the forthcoming election.

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