Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif came under much ridicule after he inaugurated a “fake Pizza Hut” outlet in Sialkot Cantonment. To further the embarrassment, the American multinational pizza restaurant chain also issued a statement stating that the outlet was “falsely using” its name.
The post shared by journalist Rahul Shivshankar has gone viral, with many users pointing out that “even fast food runs on fiction” in that country.
Sharing a picture of Khwaja cutting the ribbon, Shivshankar wrote: “Pakistan Defence Minister inaugurates a fake Pizza Hut!!! When even fast food needs ‘plausible deniability!”.
The post was accompanied with a public notice issued by Pizza Hut Pakistan. In the notice, the company stated an “unauthorised outlet falsely using the Pizza Hut name and branding has recently launched in Sialkot cantonment.”
Pakistan’s Defence Minister inaugurates a fake Pizza Hut!!!
When even fast food needs 'plausible deniability'! pic.twitter.com/TOO4ACXODz
— Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) January 21, 2026
What does the Pizza Hut Pakistan notice say?
Pizza Hut Pakistan denied having any authorised outlet in Sialkot and that it is “not associated with Pizza Hut Pakistan, or Yum! Brands.” It further warned that the outlet does not follow Pizza Hut International recipes, quality protocols, food safety, and operational standards.
The notice also added that the company has officially registered a complaint with the relevant authorities to stop the alleged misuse of its trademark. The American chain also listed the brand’s official branches in the country. The firm also urged its customers to verify official locations by using its store locator options.
The inauguration event drew online attention, followed by Pizza Hut Pakistan’s notice distancing itself from the outlet.
‘Even fast food runs on fiction’
After the notice surfaced, social media users sharply questioned how a Pizza Hut-branded outlet could be launched publicly if it was not authorised by the company.
Several reactions started circulating online. One user wrote, “Pakistan is capable of doing anything and everything for all the wrong reasons to stay in news.” Another post mocked the situation, mentioning, “What a joke! But the bigger joke is the defense minister of a country agreed proudly to inaugurate a pizza outlet.”
Some social media users also used sarcasm to highlight the controversy. One comment read, “Pakistan Defence Minister: So then…whose ribbon did I cut?” Another post slammed the situation, saying, “In Pakistan, even fast food runs on fiction.”