Claim: The Kākāpō, a species of endangered bird found in New Zealand, can barely walk. The birds also mate with rocks. Fact: According to the Department of Conservation (New Zealand), Kākāpō can walk and climb well. They do not mate with rocks. Fact or Fiction? Kākāpō are a critically endangered species found in New Zealand. […]
Claim: The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) collaborated with Government College University (GCU) Lahore to organise the Harry Potter Festival in December 2021. Fact: The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) had no involvement in the Harry Potter Festival hosted by Government College University (GCU) Lahore, according to an official of the WCLA. On […]
Claim: Russian President Vladimir Putin has converted Moscow’s Cathedral Church into a Masjid (Mosque) and handed over the keys to the Grand Mufti of Russia during the inauguration ceremony of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque. Fact: The posts circulating on Facebook regarding the conversion of a “Cathedral Church into Masjid” by the Russian government are false. […]
Claim: Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah said, “We are all Pakistanis and none of us is Sindhi, Balochi, Pathan or Punjabi. We should be proud to be Pakistani only and only.” Fact: The quote is being wrongly attributed to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in posts shared online. Jinnah did not say, “We are all Pakistanis and […]
Claim: A top education officer has issued a ban on co-education in Chakwal schools. Fact: The claim is misleading. The Deputy District Education Officer (M-EE) for Chakwal did issue a notification on the “prohibition of co-education in government schools at elementary level” in Chakwal but this notification was cancelled by the DC Office Chakwal shortly […]
Claim: The divorce rate in Pakistan has hit an all-time high, according to a recent survey. Fact: The divorce rate in Pakistan in 2021 has not hit an all-time high; the survey by Gallup & Gilani Pakistan cited in the news reports in question dates back to 2019. Moreover, that survey was based on the […]
Claim: Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has said that South Asians love music but it’s “not easy to make South Asians pay” as they “want it for free only.” Fact: Ek did not make any such comment. The quote being attributed to him is “incorrect”, according to Asiatic Public Relations Network, the communications and public relations […]
Claim: A video doing the rounds on social media depicts Pakistani soldiers fighting in Siachen. Fact: The video is not of Pakistani soldiers fighting in Siachen. The caption shared alongside this video on Facebook states, “How Pakistan army fights enemy in Siachen,” implying that the characters in the video are members of the Pakistan armed […]
Claim: A viral image depicts Italian singer Julia Markin holding up her bra and asking people in a crowd how much they would be willing to pay for it. Fact: The image is in fact of Hollywood actress Katie Holmes re-enacting a scene from a historic protest. A facebook account run by user Taajob Mahar […]
Claim: Former Australian cricket player Ricky Ponting said, “[Indian] Money can’t buy success and Pakistan has proved that.” Fact: Ricky Ponting did not say Money can’t buy success. After the Indian cricket team failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the T20 Cricket Worldcup 2021, a quote emerged on social media attributed to cricket commentator […]
Claim: The Government of Sindh has announced a public holiday on 4 November. Fact: The Sindh government has indeed announced that 4 November will be a holiday to mark the annual Diwali festival. However, the holiday applies only to Hindu employees of the provincial government. On 1 November 2021, claims that the Government of Sindh […]
Claim: A private bank shut down a transgender activist’s newly-opened account, claiming that her income did not comply with Shariah laws. Fact: The incident did occur but it dates back to January 2021; some websites have picked up the story and rehashed it as a new incident. News media website Pak 92 News on 29 […]