Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif was heavily trolled on socia media after he presided over the opening of a Pizza Hut branded restaurant in Sialkot, which the company later disowned, stating that the outlet was neither authorised nor affiliated with the brand.
The photos and videos of the inauguration were shared widely on social media. The pictures showed Khawaja Asif surrounded by a small group of people, taking part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony with scissors in hand at the outlet in Sialkot Cantonment. Khawaja Asif posed for the cameras after officially "opening" the outlet.
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Pizza Hut Pakistan Issues Statement
Pizza Hut Pakistan issued a public statement after the inauguration photos went viral. It clarified that the outlet opened at Sialkot Cantonment was unauthorised and falsely using the company’s name.
“Pizza Hut Pakistan informs our valued customers that an unauthorised outlet falsely using the Pizza Hut name and branding has recently opened in Sialkot Cantonment," the statement said.
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“This 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,” it added.
Pizza Hut Pakistan also "formally filed a complaint with the relevant authorities to stop the misuse of our trademark and ensure immediate action."
Pizza Hut Pakistan stated that it operates 16 official outlets in the country, of which 14 are located in Lahore and two in Islamabad. It requested customers to verify the outlets on the website before their visit for the "authentic Pizza Hut experience." It added that “your trust matters deeply to us.”