ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s information ministry on Sunday refuted reports of a complete “lockdown” on weekends to conserve fuel, urging the masses to avoid sharing posts from unverified sources.
The statement came in response to an undated notification that circulated online and falsely quoted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as directing the enforcement of several additional measures in “view of the continuing Gulf oil crisis.”
According to the document, the government had ordered a “complete and comprehensive lockdown” throughout the country on every Saturday and Sunday, starting from April 5.
In a post on X, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB) urged the public to avoid sharing such “fake news and false posts.”
“Be a responsible citizen, trust only authentic sources,” the ministry said. “Your one share can spread misunderstanding in society.”
The development follows Pakistan’s announcement this month of austerity measures to conserve fuel as the United States (US) and Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s counterattacks in the Gulf drove up global energy prices.
The measures included a four-day work week, slashing of fuel quota for government vehicles, shifting of classes of higher education institutions online, and establishing an austerity fund.
Pakistan increased petrol and diesel prices by Rs55 ($0.20) per liter this month, following a surge in global oil prices driven by the ongoing conflict, which has disrupted energy supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.
This week, Pakistan’s government also issued a tranche of Rs27 billion [$97 million] for the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to settle price differential claims arising from Islamabad’s decision later to shield consumers from the impact of rising oil prices due to the Middle East conflict.
