In recent years, the propagation of false news has become a major problem, with social media platforms and messaging applications allowing anyone to easily disseminate unconfirmed or inaccurate information. A recent example of fake news making the rounds in Pakistan is a tale about car prices going down.
Fake news of falling car prices in Pakistan began to circulate on social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and WhatsApp. According to the narrative, the government slashed taxes on imported cars, causing prices to fall across the country. This news spread quickly and caused excitement among many Pakistanis who were hoping to purchase an automobile.
#FakeNews
گاڑیوں کی قیمتوں میں فلحال کوئی کمی واقع نہیں ہوئی اور نا ہی باقاعدہ کوئی ریٹ لسٹ شئیر کی گئیہے یہ ریٹ لسٹ جعلی ہے جو مختلف سوشل میڈیا اکاؤنٹس سے وائرل ہورہی ہیں۔ pic.twitter.com/E5ObgMlMSV— Expose Propaganda (@EPropoganda1) May 7, 2023
However, upon deeper inspection, the narrative was discovered to be entirely fictitious. The government had made no such declaration, and Pakistani car rates remained unaltered.
In truth, car prices have risen in recent months due to a range of factors, including rising inflation and a depreciation of the Pakistani rupee.
Also read: FBR likely to reimpose regulatory duty on imported cars
On the other hand, Asim Ahmed, the chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), stated on Thursday that regulatory duty tax on the import of mobile phones and used cars up to 1,800cc may resume at any time.
The two Statutory Regulatory Orders (SROs), which were used to levy taxes, expired on March 31 after the Tariff Policy Board declined to prolong their validity earlier this month, abolishing the regulatory levies on autos and other commodities.
