Govt debunks viral ‘weekend lockdown’ claim amid fuel crisis concerns

Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has dismissed circulating reports claiming a nationwide weekend lockdown, labeling the notification as completely fake.

The clarification came through the ministry’s official fact-checking platform on X, where the viral document — suggesting a “complete and comprehensive lockdown” every Saturday and Sunday — was explicitly marked as false. Citizens were urged to rely only on verified sources and avoid spreading misinformation.

The fake notification falsely attributed directives to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, claiming that strict weekend lockdowns would begin from April 5 in response to the ongoing global oil crisis.

According to the fabricated document, the supposed lockdown would start at 12:01am on Saturdays and continue until 11:59pm on Sundays across the country. However, authorities have confirmed that no such decision has been made.

That said, the government has already introduced several austerity measures to manage rising fuel costs linked to geopolitical tensions. These include a 50% reduction in fuel allowances for official vehicles (excluding essential services like ambulances and public transport), along with a work-from-home policy for half of public sector employees.

Discussions are ongoing at the policy level regarding contingency plans in case the global situation worsens. A recent meeting chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb explored possible steps such as fuel rationing, reduced working days, and limited lockdown-style restrictions.

At the provincial level, Nasir Shah has also indicated that a “smart lockdown” is under consideration as a fuel-saving measure. However, there is no official confirmation of any nationwide lockdown plan so far.

Notably, some stakeholders — particularly from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — have voiced strong opposition to lockdown proposals, warning that such measures could severely impact economic activity and daily wage earners.

For now, officials maintain that the widely shared weekend lockdown notification is baseless, and no formal decision has been taken in that regard.