American fast food restaurant chain Pizza Hut had torelase a statement clarifying that the Pizza Hut outlet, which was inaugurated by Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, was actually unauthorised on Wednesday.
The public notice said that the the outlet in Sialkot Cantonment opened after “falsely using the Pizza Hut name and branding.”
“The outlet is not associated with Pizza Hut Pakistan or Yum! Brands it does not follow Pizza Hut international recipes, quality protocols, food safety, and operational standards, the company stated.
Pizza Hut said that they are also “filing a complaint with the relevant authorities to stop the misuse of our trademark.”
The company had to make the statement after images surfaced on social media showing Pakistan's Defence Minister unknowingly inaugurating the outlet.
The new restaurant was decked out in all red carpets and balloons and featured all the classic Pizza Hut logo and brand design. The minister is seen solemnly cutting the ribbon in the photographs.
This really is peak Pakistan.
— Sonam Mahajan (@AsYouNotWish) January 21, 2026
The Defence Minister of Pakistan, a nuclear-armed country, inaugurates a Pizza Hut in a military cantonment. The actual Pizza Hut then issues a public notice saying, ‘Sorry, this outlet is fake, unauthorised, uses none of our recipes, follows none… pic.twitter.com/BH0u1EgC7U
Social media had a field day after the US fast food chain made the statement. Netizens expressed disbelief, while others mocked the minister.
One person said "So yes, Khawaja Asif now holds a rare distinction. Possibly the first defence minister in history to inaugurate a counterfeit fast food outlet while holding office."
