Govt refutes nationwide shutdown rumour

ISLAMABAD:

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Sunday rejected a widely circulated notification claiming a complete lockdown across the country on weekends, terming it fake.

In a post on its official fact-checker account on X, the ministry shared the viral notification stamped with the word "fake" to counter misinformation spreading on social media. "Avoid sharing fake news and false posts. Be a responsible citizen and only trust verified sources," the post said.

The undated document falsely attributed directives to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, claiming the measures were imposed due to a "continuing Gulf oil crisis."

According to the fabricated notification, authorities ordered a "complete and comprehensive lockdown throughout the country" every Saturday and Sunday starting from April 5. "The lockdown shall take effect every Saturday from 12:01am and continue till 11:59pm every Sunday," the fake order read.

However, to curb energy consumption and manage the deepening fuel crisis, the federal government is considering finalising a comprehensive plan to impose a "smart lockdown" alongside expanded austerity measures. However, no official announcement or notification was issued.

Under the proposed plan, markets and shopping malls would close at 9:30pm, while wedding halls would be limited to a maximum of 200 guests, with a one-dish policy and a 10pm closing time. The restrictions aimed to curb large gatherings and reduce nighttime energy usage.