The Ministry of Information has rejected a viral notification claiming a nationwide weekend lockdown, declaring it “fake” and urging the public to rely only on verified sources.
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In a post on its official fact-checker account, the ministry shared the circulating document — falsely attributed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif — and clearly marked it as fabricated. The fake notification claimed that a “complete and comprehensive lockdown” would be imposed across the country every Saturday and Sunday starting April 5 due to the ongoing Gulf oil crisis.
According to the fabricated order, the lockdown would run from 12:01am Saturday until 11:59pm Sunday each week. Authorities have confirmed that no such directive has been issued.
The clarification comes amid growing public concern over potential austerity measures following the global oil crisis triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran. Earlier, the government had announced steps including a 50% reduction in fuel allowances for official vehicles and partial work-from-home policies in the public sector, while essential services remained exempt.
Separately, a consultative meeting chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb reviewed contingency measures to tackle fiscal and external pressures. Proposals under discussion included fuel rationing, reduced working days, and possible lockdown scenarios, though no final decision has been made.
Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah had also indicated that a “smart lockdown” was being considered as a fuel-saving measure. However, provincial representatives, particularly from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, expressed concerns that such steps could severely impact economic activity and daily wage earners.
Officials reiterated that any policy decision would be formally announced through official channels, advising citizens to avoid spreading misinformation.
