We have been rambling about the same thing again and again. Why do these news agencies and publishers keep making news out of rumors and why don’t they check the facts before publishing?
Today, we heard yet another fake news. Many news agencies, newspapers and online publishers are reporting that the USA has launched a No Visa Policy for Pakistanis. We regret to inform you that the news is completely fake.
The news is spreading like wildfire, with social media being the major carrier of this news. People are already rejoicing as if they have been granted a ticket to Paradise. The story published by Dunya News, Express News, INN and many others is fake.
The news report says, Pakistan has been named among the countries whose nationals have the privilege not to apply for a non-immigrant Visa when traveling to the US, thanks to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). According to the news report, US Foreign Secretary John Kerry has said that Pakistan has been rewarded for the “War on Terror” by the US Foreign Office. And its citizens will be able to travel to the USA without a Visa for simply visiting the country and that travelers will only require an electronic confirmation prior to their journey.
The list (can be seen below), which consists of 38 countries does not include Pakistan’s name and all of this is based on rumors only.
There is no such information on Pakistani or US Embassies’ websites or social media accounts related to the embassies or John Kerry. The US Embassy Pakistan’s Official Facebook page has just posted that this news is false.
It is pathetic how news agencies turn rumors to stories and while the rest of them copy it from each other. Unfortunately, the public is also gullible and they do not verify facts, even though these publishers have proven their inability to share authentic and validated news.