KARACHI: A nationwide strike has been announced for April 26 as a show of protest against Israeli actions in Gaza and to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Amid this development, a notification began circulating online, falsely claiming that a public holiday had been declared in Karachi.
The fake notification, which spread rapidly on Friday, stated that Saturday, April 26, would be a public holiday due to the planned strike. However, it was soon confirmed to be misinformation.
As messages about the supposed holiday made rounds on WhatsApp and social media, the office of the Commissioner Karachi stepped in to clarify the situation.
Officials confirmed that no such notification had been issued and that no public or private holiday had been declared. All government offices, schools, and private institutions will remain open on Friday.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami, backed by several trader groups in Karachi, has called for a complete shutdown on April 26, 2025, to express solidarity with Palestinians.
A number of business associations have supported the strike, and many major markets in the city are expected to close for the day.
Authorities made it clear that this is a voluntary business strike and not an officially declared public holiday.