Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif inaugurates fake Pizza Hut in Sialkot

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif is being trolled on social media after visuals of him inaugurating a ‘Pizza Hut’ in Sialkot went viral. While the high-profile inauguration ceremony didn’t initially spark controversy, it came under social media scrutiny after the US-based food chain issued a statement calling the outlet "unauthorised" and denying any links to it.

Pizza Hut called the newly-opened outlet in Pakistan’s Sialkot unauthorised. (Screengrab (X))

The food giant said that the outlet at Sialkot Cantonment is falsely using its name. It also stated that it has reported the incident to the authorities.

“Public Notice: Pizza Hut Pakistan would like to inform our valued customers that an unauthorized outlet falsely using the Pizza Hut name and branding has opened in Sialkot Cantonment. This outlet is not affiliated with Pizza Hut Pakistan or Yum! Brands and does not follow Pizza Hut International recipes, quality protocols, or food safety standards. We have formally reported this matter to the relevant authorities for immediate action,” the food chain wrote on social media. Yum! Brands is a major American multinational fast-food corporation, the parent company of Pizza Hut.