The Ministry of Information warns that a notification circulating online about changing Pakistan’s government working days to four is fake.
ISLAMABAD – Web Desk: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has rejected a notification circulating on social media that claims the Government of Pakistan has changed its working week to four days.
The ministry’s fact-checking account said on Thursday that the notification was fake and urged the public not to believe or share the misleading document.
MoIB rejects viral notification
According to the ministry, the document circulating online falsely claims that the government has changed its official working days.
The fake notification appeared to have been issued by the Cabinet Division and was dated September 16. It purported to amend an earlier notification issued on September 15.
The document claimed that government offices would operate from Monday to Thursday, with Friday, Saturday and Sunday declared weekly holidays.
The Ministry of Information said the claim was false and advised citizens to rely only on official government channels for authentic notifications and announcements.
Fake notification follows austerity discussions
The false notification emerged amid renewed discussion about government austerity measures as Pakistan faces higher fuel prices and disruptions to oil supplies.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had earlier said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed officials to consult on measures that could be revived in response to the changing economic situation.
Those discussions contributed to speculation on social media about possible additional fuel-conservation measures.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry had also rejected reports that the government was considering a “smart lockdown”, saying such a measure had neither been discussed nor was under consideration.
Previous austerity measures
The government had previously introduced austerity measures in March amid the economic impact of the ongoing US-Iran war.
Those measures included a 50% reduction in fuel allowances for official vehicles, salary cuts for lawmakers and a partial work-from-home policy for public-sector employees.
Most of those measures were ended on June 19, although restrictions on market timings remained in place.
The government later introduced a daily petroleum pricing mechanism in July as global oil prices became increasingly volatile amid geopolitical tensions.
Public urged to verify government announcements
The Ministry of Information has advised citizens to verify government notifications through official sources before sharing them on social media.
The clarification is particularly relevant as speculation over fuel prices, conservation measures and government austerity policies continues to circulate online.
