Laser directed patterning of carbon nanotubes-based buckypaper for producing a diffractive optical device is presented here. Using a laser ablation method the buckypaper was patterned into a binary Fresnel zone plate lens. Computational modelling was performed which revealed excellent focusing performance of the lens for both visible and THz radiations. SEM and Raman measurements of the lens were studied to analyse the laser-material interaction. The focusing properties of the lens were characterized and a good agreement with the simulations was achieved. Hence, we exploited a new way to fabricate thin flat lens. The one-step fabrication process is economical, convenient and has great potential for industrial scale up.