Info ministry debunks fake weekend lockdown alert, warns against misinformation

• Ministry labels viral nationwide shutdown notification as fabricated, saying prime minister falsely quoted in forged directive

• Says austerity measures in place amid fuel crisis—but no lockdown decision yet, urging citizens to verify information, avoid spreading fake news

 ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Information on Sunday firmly debunked a viral notification claiming a “complete and comprehensive lockdown” across the country on weekends, terming it fabricated and urging citizens to rely only on verified sources.

In a post on its official fact-checking account on X, the ministry shared the widely circulated document stamped with a bold “fake” label, cautioning against the spread of misinformation.

“Avoid sharing fake news and false posts. Be a responsible citizen and only trust verified sources,” the ministry said.

The undated notification falsely attributed directives to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, claiming that additional restrictions were being imposed in view of the ongoing Gulf oil crisis.

According to the forged document, a “complete and comprehensive lockdown” was to be enforced nationwide every Saturday and Sunday from April 5, beginning at 12:01am on Saturday and ending at 11:59pm on Sunday.

فیک خبروں اور جھوٹی پوسٹس کو شیئر کرنے سے گریز کریں۔

ذمہ دار شہری بنیں، صرف مستند ذرائع پر اعتماد کریں۔

آپ کی ایک شیئر معاشرے میں غلط فہمی پھیلا سکتی ہے۔ #ThinkBeforeYouShare pic.twitter.com/4vGlwFsCXy

— Fact Checker MoIB (@FactCheckerMoIB) March 29, 2026

The clarification comes amid heightened public concern over rising fuel prices linked to the global oil crisis triggered by the US-Israel war on Iran.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had announced a series of austerity measures to ease the burden on the economy, including a 50 per cent reduction in fuel allowances for official vehicles—excluding essential services such as ambulances and public transport—for a period of two months.

The government had also directed that 50pc of public sector employees work from home, with exemptions granted to essential service providers.

On Friday, a high-level consultative meeting chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb reviewed contingency measures to manage fiscal and external pressures in case of a prolonged Middle East crisis and worsening global economic conditions.

Among the proposals discussed were potential lockdowns, fuel rationing, extended holidays for educational institutions, and reduced working days in the private sector—mirroring public sector policies—along with a broader 50pc work-from-home framework. However, no final decision or official announcement has been made regarding these measures.

Earlier, Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah had also indicated that the provincial government was considering a “smart lockdown” as a fuel conservation step.

During Friday’s meeting, however, representatives from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reportedly opposed the idea of lockdowns, warning that such measures could severely disrupt economic activity and disproportionately impact daily wage earners and private sector workers.