The Government of Pakistan has rejected a notification circulating on social media that claims government offices will soon observe three weekly holidays.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s official fact-checking account on X clarified that the document being shared online is fake and misleading.
The fabricated notification claims that government offices would operate only from Monday to Thursday, while Friday, Saturday and Sunday would be declared weekly holidays.
The clarification comes after the document began circulating on social media, prompting questions among citizens about whether the government had introduced a major change to the official working week.
Fake Notification Circulates Online
The document being shared online appears to announce a change in the working schedule of government offices across Pakistan.
According to the fake notification, offices would remain open from Monday through Thursday, while employees would receive three consecutive days off at the end of the week.
The document reportedly carries the date September 16, 2026, and appears to use the letterhead of the Cabinet Division, giving it the appearance of an official government communication.
However, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has confirmed that the document is not genuine.
The ministry has urged citizens to avoid treating the notification as an authentic government announcement.
Government Warns Public Against Fake Information
The ministry’s official fact-checking platform advised people not to believe or share the misleading notification.
Authorities have repeatedly urged citizens to verify important government announcements through official channels before forwarding them on social media.
Fake government notifications can create confusion, particularly when they involve issues such as public holidays, office timings, school closures or changes to government policies.
In this case, the notification claiming three weekly holidays created the impression that government employees would receive Friday, Saturday and Sunday as regular days off.
The government has clarified that the viral document does not represent an official decision.
No Confirmation of Three Weekly Holidays
The clarification means the widely circulated notification should not be treated as evidence of a new four-day working week for government offices.
The viral document specifically claims that offices would operate from Monday through Thursday.
However, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has stated that the notification is fake.
Citizens should therefore rely on authentic announcements issued through official government platforms when checking working schedules or public holidays.
Any genuine change to the working days of government offices would be expected to be communicated through the relevant official government authorities and notification channels.
Social Media Users Asked to Verify Notifications
The incident has once again highlighted the speed at which fabricated official-looking documents can spread online.
A notification carrying government-style branding or letterhead can appear credible at first glance, even when it has not been issued by the relevant authority.
The ministry’s fact-checking response is intended to prevent the false information from being further circulated.
Citizens are encouraged to check the source, date and issuing authority of any government notification before sharing it with others.
This is particularly important when viral posts claim major changes that could affect the daily routines of millions of people.
Fake Documents Can Create Public Confusion
Notifications concerning working days and holidays can have a direct impact on government employees, businesses and members of the public.
A false announcement about three weekly holidays could lead employees and citizens to incorrectly believe that government offices would remain closed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Such misinformation could also affect people planning visits to government departments or arranging official work around supposed changes in office schedules.
The government’s clarification is therefore significant in ensuring that citizens do not make decisions based on an unauthenticated document.
Official Sources Remain Important
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has advised the public to depend on official government channels for accurate information.
Government departments regularly issue notifications through authorised platforms when there are changes to office timings, holidays or administrative policies.
Citizens can help limit the spread of misinformation by checking whether a document has been officially published before reposting or forwarding it.
In the case of the viral three-holiday notification, the government has specifically identified the document as fake.
What the Viral Notification Claimed
The fabricated document claimed that government offices would follow a four-day working schedule.
Its reported arrangement was:
- Monday: Working day
- Tuesday: Working day
- Wednesday: Working day
- Thursday: Working day
- Friday: Holiday
- Saturday: Holiday
- Sunday: Holiday
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has clarified that these claims are not contained in a genuine government notification.
Public Advised to Follow Authentic Updates
The government has once again urged citizens to verify information before believing or sharing viral notifications.
The clarification comes amid the continued circulation of misleading content on social media, where official-looking documents can quickly gain traction.
For now, the viral notification claiming three weekly holidays has no official standing according to the ministry’s fact-checking account.
Citizens should continue to follow announcements issued through authorised government channels for any future changes to working days, office timings or public holidays.
