A document widely shared online claims that the personal car of Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain is exempted from paying toll at toll plazas.
Several social media users criticized the minister for allegedly avoiding a fee that ordinary citizens must pay.
The document is fake.
Assertion
On February 3, a document circulated on social media purportedly issued by Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain. The letter allegedly states that a Toyota Corolla with registration number “LEE 4271” is his personal vehicle and should not be stopped at toll booths to collect road tax.
At the time of writing, the post had been viewed 42,000 times, liked 1,100 times and resubmitted 536 times.
Identical requirements were also shared Facebook, Instagram and Thread.
Fact
No such letter was issued by the Federal Minister of National Food Security and Research, nor has the highway authorities been directed to grant such an exemption.
Shah Faisal, public relations officer of the federal minister for national food security and research, confirmed opposite Geofact check that the document circulating on the web is fake.
Separately, Umair Saddozai, deputy director at the National Highway Authority, said Geofact check by telephone, that the authority does not have a record of the document. “And we haven’t given his car any exemption either,” he added.
Zafar Sultan Khan, Director General (Media and Photography) of the National Assembly of Pakistan also confirmed Geofact check that the document has been produced.
Khan pointed out several discrepancies. The letter has no date, which undermines its authenticity. He further noted that Hussain, as a federal minister, would not use a personal letterhead for official communication; any such correspondence would be issued through his ministry, another sign that the document was forged.
It should be noted that the document also contains several errors. Instead of referring to “toll,” it mentions “toll plaza.” Additionally, the minister’s name is spelled inconsistently throughout, appearing as “Tanveer” in some cases and “Tanvir” in others.
Verdict: The document being circulated online is fake. The National Highway Authority has not received any such toll exemption instructions.
