Pakistan government debunks fake four-day work week claims

The Government of Pakistan has debunked viral social media claims suggesting the implementation of a four-day working week. The fraudulent notifications, which circulated in mid-September 2026, claimed that public and private offices would operate only from Monday through Thursday, with Friday, Saturday, and Sunday designated as holidays.

The fake documents utilized the Cabinet Division’s letterhead and professional formatting to lend false credibility to the claims. These rumors suggested the change was part of a ‘smart petroleum lockdown’ intended to reduce fuel consumption amid rising global oil prices.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry denied that such a proposal was discussed in recent meetings, clarifying that sessions involving Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar were focused solely on petroleum products. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a formal clarification through its official fact-checking account, advising the public to rely exclusively on official government channels for authentic announcements.