The news originated from actor Khaled Anam’s social media account. He later apologized and posted a video to clarify the situation.
A social media post by actor Khaled Anam claimed that a recent book fair in Lahore sold only 35 books while food items like shawarmas and biryanis sold in large numbers. This claim went viral on platforms like Facebook, with pages such as Startup Karachi and TheMedBros sharing the story, prompting a response from Defense Minister Khawaja Asif. However, no evidence or details such as event organizers, venue, or dates were provided, and prominent book fairs like the Lahore International Book Fair (LIBF) denied any connection to this claim.
iVerify fact-checked the incident, with LIBF’s Vice Chairman Kashif Mir Zubair confirming that the report was false, emphasizing that LIBF events only feature publishers and booksellers, not food stalls.
Khaled Anam later apologized and clarified on social media, explaining that he had shared the story as a joke, translating it from English to Urdu without verification. He acknowledged his mistake and vowed not to post unverified content again. BBC Urdu also covered his clarification.
