The finance ministry has clarified that the news circulating about orders to stop the payment of salaries and pensions to government employees is not true.

In a press release issued on Saturday, the ministry said that no orders to the effect of blocking payments have been issued.

It further said that the Auditor General Pakistan Revenues has confirmed that proceedings regarding the payments have been completed and the salaries/pensions will be disbursed on time.

All other payments are also being duly processed, the statement said.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar also tweeted the press release.

He said spreading fake news causes harm to the national economic interests. “Kindly refrain from circulating such reports/news without verifyingsame from the concerned ministry!”

A report published in The News had claimed that due to financial difficulties, the government had given orders to stop clearing government bills including salaries and pensions.

The story had quoted unnamed finance ministry officials for the claim but said that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar himself had not confirmed the report.