A high-ranking Pakistani official recently performed the opening ceremony for a new Pizza Hut restaurant, only to have the fast food chain announce that the eatery was not theirs.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, recently cut the ribbon of a new “Pizza Hut” outlet in Sialkot. Photos and videos from the event showed him smiling alongside the owners as he inaugurated the new restaurant, but then Pizza Hut announced that they were in no way affiliated with the new restaurant, and Asif became the target of jokes and memes.
“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,” a Pizza Hut statement read. “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.”
Although the new restaurant featured Pizza Hut’s familiar red roof logo and branding, it was missing from the company’s list of 16 locations in Pakistan, and the official statement confirmed what many already suspected – Khawaja Asif had promoted a fake Pizza Hut.
“How could he not know?” one social media user wondered, while others rejoiced in mocking the high-ranking Pakistani official.
“Only in Pakistan can a Defence Minister proudly inaugurate a fake Pizza Hut. Khawaja Asif cut the ribbon, smiled for cameras, and walked away—only for the brand to later declare the outlet unauthorised. No one can parody this level of incompetence,” one person commented on the situation.
The American fast food chain said it had filed a complaint with the relevant authorities to stop the misuse of “our trademark and ensure immediate action,” but what people really wanted to know was why Khawaja Asif had been so clueless about the people behind the restaurant.
Pizza Hut never mentioned Asif by name, and Pakistan’s Defence Minister has yet to offer a statement regarding this blunder of epic proportions.
