Pakistan Defence Minister Khwaja Asif inaugurates Pizza Hut outlet in Sialkot, company calls it fake

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khwaja Asif sparked controversy after inaugurating what was later identified as a fake Pizza Hut outlet in Sialkot Cantonment, with the company publicly clarifying that the establishment was unauthorised.

Photos and videos circulating on social media showed Khwaja Asif attending a formal inauguration ceremony at the outlet, complete with ribbon-cutting, floral arrangements and a small gathering. Shortly after the event, Pizza Hut Pakistan issued a statement clarifying that the outlet was not officially affiliated with the brand.

Pizza Hut Pakistan said an unauthorised outlet had recently opened in Sialkot Cantonment using the Pizza Hut name and branding. The company stated that the outlet was not associated with Pizza Hut Pakistan or Yum! Brands and did not follow Pizza Hut International recipes, quality protocols, food safety or operational standards.


The company added that it had formally filed a complaint with the relevant authorities to stop the misuse of its trademark and ensure immediate action. It also clarified that Pizza Hut Pakistan currently operates 16 official outlets nationwide, including 14 in Lahore and two in Islamabad, and urged customers to verify store locations through its official website.

Pizza Hut Pakistan reiterated that customer trust was important and advised people to rely only on verified outlets for the authentic Pizza Hut experience.

X users reaction on the incident

The incident triggered widespread reactions on X, with several users criticising and mocking the episode. One user wrote, “Kuch asli baki reh geya hy ya nahi is soobay main? ajeeb vahiyat loog nafiz hain hum per.”
Another user, Geo Pulse, commented, “Classic Pakistan move - even the fast food is fake, just like half the promises from these clowns.”

Haroon said, “There's also fake Al Baik in Giga Mall, Rawalpindi,” while Awais Latif wrote, “Wah Khawaja sab, when defence, economy, and diplomacy are all under control, naturally the next priority is inaugurating a fake Pizza Hut.”

Another user remarked, “One ribbon cut, one statement issued. That has to be some kind of record,” while one comment said, “The ribbon-cutting photos are the best advertisement for why due diligence matters.”

Some users also drew comparisons with past political gaffes, with one post stating, “From national security to pizza security, turns out the latter needed better verification.”