Essentials
- City
- Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
- Population
- Approximately 14.5 million
- Internet Speed
- 15-50 Mbps on average; StormFiber and Optix provide reliable fiber up to 100 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 278 PKR, 1 EUR ≈ 302 PKR (March 2026 rates fluctuate)
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use bottled water like Nestle Pure Life (PKR 90 for 1.5L)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C, D, G, and M sockets; UPS or solar backup is essential due to load shedding
- SIM Card
- Zong or Jazz; 100GB monthly data packages cost approx. PKR 2,000
- Banking for Expats
- Standard Chartered or HBL; Nayapay/Sadapay for digital payments and debit cards
- Accommodation
- Airbnb for short stays; Zameen.com for longer rentals in secure gated communities
- Cashless Friendly
- Moderately; high-end spots accept cards, but cash is king in markets/local eateries
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Booking.com; serviced apartments in Gulberg or DHA (PKR 8,000 - 15,000/night)
- Budget Accommodation
- The Lahore Backpackers near Regal Chowk (approx. PKR 2,500/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Gulberg (City Center) or Old Lahore (Walled City) for cultural immersion
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- DHA (Defense Housing Authority) Phases 3, 5, or 6 for safety, stable power, and cafes
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Kickstart (Gulberg & DHA); Monthly desks around PKR 22,000 - 30,000
- Best Cafe for Work
- Third Culture Coffee (Gulberg) or Second Cup (DHA Phase 6); excellent WiFi and AC
- Networking Events
- PlanX and National Incubation Center (NIC) Lahore host regular tech and startup meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Lahore Chapter and the 'Expats in Lahore' Facebook group
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Bykea (for motorbikes), Uber, and Careem (for cars and 'rickshaws')
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- EZBike (Electric scooter sharing in commercial hubs); otherwise local private rentals
- Best Beach Nearby
- None; Lahore is landlocked. Closest beach is Karachi (16-hour drive or 1.5-hour flight)
- Top Regional Airline
- AirSial or Fly Jinnah for domestic routes
- Top International Airline
- Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Emirates, or Qatar Airways
- Highway Access
- M-2 Motorway connects Lahore to Islamabad; Lahore Ring Road for city navigation
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Lahore Junction Railway Station
- Public Transport Passes
- Lahore Metrobus and Orange Line Metro Train. Cards cost PKR 200, fares start at PKR 40
- Regional Travel
- Daewoo Express and Faisal Movers for luxury bus travel to other cities
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Doctors Hospital (Johar Town) or Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Wellness Center (Gulberg); Classes approx. PKR 2,000 per session
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Structures Health & Fitness (Gulberg) or Shapes (DHA); Monthly PKR 8,000 - 15,000
- Laundry Services
- The Laundry Basket (Home pickup/delivery) or neighborhood 'Dhobi' services
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Foodpanda (widely used) and Cheetay
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Butt Karahi (Lakshmi Chowk) or Nihari at Waris Nihari (Anarkali)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- The Kitchen (DHA) or Falafel Republic (Gulberg); try local Daal and Mix Sabzi
- Best Dessert Spots
- Chashni for traditional sweets; Khalifa Bakers inside Mochi Gate for Almond Nan Khatais
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Anarkali Bazaar and Liberty Market
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Daraz.pk (main marketplace) and Bagallery for beauty/lifestyle
- Grocery Delivery
- Airlift (if active), PandaMart (Foodpanda), and Kashaaf
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- No public bars (prohibition city). Socializing happens at private 'Farmhouse' parties or elite hotels
- Local Brewery
- Murree Brewery (only available via specific permits or upscale hotels like Pearl Continental)
- Wine Bars
- Non-existent publicly; non-Muslims and expats can access alcohol at PC Hotel via permit
- Street Food Stalls
- Fort Road Food Street or Gawalmandi Food Street
- Popular International Cuisine
- Aylanto (Mediterranean, Gulberg) or Gaia (Japanese/Fusion, DHA Phase 5)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Badshahi Mosque and Minar-e-Pakistan
- Museums & Art Venues
- Lahore Museum (Mall Road) and Alhamra Arts Council
- Historical Sites
- Lahore Fort (Shahi Qila) and Shalimar Gardens (UNESCO World Heritage)
- Religious Sites
- Data Darbar (Sufi Shrine) and Wazir Khan Mosque
- Annual Events
- Lahore Literary Festival (LLF) in February; Horse and Cattle Show in March
- Cultural Districts
- The Walled City (Androon Shehar)
- Theater Venues
- Alhamra Theatre on Mall Road
- Local Markets
- Ichhra Bazaar for textiles; Hafeez Centre for electronics/laptop repairs
- Music Scene
- Sufi Qawwali nights (Thursdays) at various shrines; Peeru’s Cafe for live folk music
- Street Art
- Vibrant truck art murals found along Mall Road and underpasses
- Cooking Classes
- College of Tourism & Hotel Management (COTHM) offers short courses
- Art Galleries
- Ejaz Art Gallery (Gulberg) and Canvas Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- GPO Building and Government College University
- Local Heritage
- The Wagah Border Ceremony (Flag lowering at sunset, 30 mins from city)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Rana Resort and Safari Park (Wildlife/Lakes)
- National Parks Nearby
- Changa Manga (Man-made forest, 80km away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Model Town Park (2.5 km track) or Lawrence Gardens (Bagh-e-Jinnah)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Haveli Restaurant rooftop (Views of Badshahi Mosque)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Jallo Park and the Ravi River banks
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Private farmhouses in Bedian or Barki Road
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- TCS, Leopard Couriers, and DHL
- Tech Repair Services
- Hafeez Centre (Gulberg) – the largest IT hub in Pakistan
- Table Tennis Spots
- DHA Community Centers and Model Town Club
- Language Classes
- NEST (National Education Skills & Training) for Urdu classes
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Quaid-e-Azam Library (Bagh-e-Jinnah) and British Council Library
- Community Centers
- DHA H-Block Community Centre
- Gaming Lounges
- Portal (DHA) and Portal (Gulberg) for high-end PC gaming
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Illegal and non-existent
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. PKR 250,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = PKR 10,000,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. PKR 150,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = PKR 6,000,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. PKR 230,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = PKR 13,800,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. PKR 130,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = PKR 7,800,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. PKR 210,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = PKR 16,800,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. PKR 120,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = PKR 9,600,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 29% standard rate
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 15% for filers, 30% for non-filers
- Tax System
- Residents are taxed on worldwide income; non-residents on Pakistan-source income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% (for salaries above PKR 6 million annually)
- VAT
- 17% General Sales Tax (GST)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable to residents with controlling interests abroad
- Property Tax
- Yes, based on the annual rental value and size of the property
- Property Transaction Tax
- 3%-5% Stamp Duty and Capital Value Tax (CVT)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; however, IT export income enjoys significant tax rebates (up to 0.25% effective tax for registered exporters)