Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has come under heavy criticism online after videos showed him inaugurating a restaurant branded as “Pizza Hut” in Sialkot. The images initially drew little attention. However, the issue escalated after Pizza Hut Pakistan publicly stated that the outlet was unauthorised and had no connection with the global brand.

Pizza Hut distances itself from the outlet

Soon after the visuals went viral, Pizza Hut Pakistan released a formal clarification. The company said the Sialkot Cantonment outlet was illegally using its name and branding. It stressed that the restaurant was not linked to Pizza Hut Pakistan or its parent company, Yum! Brands, a US-based multinational fast-food corporation.

“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 company said in a social media post.

Pizza Hut Pakistan also clarified its official presence in the country. “Pizza Hut Pakistan currently operates 16 official stores nationwide - 14 in Lahore and 2 in Islamabad at the moment,” it added.

Backlash grows on social media

Following the company’s statement, social media users questioned how such an inauguration could take place. Many expressed disbelief that a senior cabinet minister would open an outlet later described as unauthorised.

One user asked, “How could he not know?” Another commented, “Wasting the government budget.” A third shared a personal experience, saying, “Man, I just visited yesterday and found nothing was up to mark... I was also wondering about this.... yeah, it seems like a scam.”

Another post read, “But here the opening ceremony was done by the defence minister of Pakistan, that's wrong.”

Pizza Hut Pakistan did not directly comment on Khawaja Asif’s inauguration. Instead, the company responded to queries by sharing a link to its list of authorised outlets across Pakistan.