McDonald’s Pakistan issues clarification in backdrop of social media boycott trend

LAHORE: Following online calls for its boycott, McDonald’s Pakistan on Saturday issued an official statement to clarify that its operations in Pakistan are independently owned and are not affiliated with McDonald’s operations in Israel.

“McDonald’s in Pakistan is a local enterprise, with full ownership and operation overseen by SIZA Foods Pvt. Ltd. Pakistan. We are not affiliated with McDonald’s operations in Israel, which is a locally-owned Israelian enterprise. McDonald’s in Israel operates as a separate entity to McDonald’s Pakistan and makes its own business and communications decisions, independent of our business in Pakistan,” the statement issued by the burger giant read.

McDonald's Pakistan Official Statement. pic.twitter.com/HEZMsmRRQ8

— McDonald's Pakistan (@McDonaldsPK) October 14, 2023

The statement said that McDonald’s Pakistan’s journey commenced with the opening of its first restaurant in Lahore in 1998.

“Ever since, we have been active participants in the fabric of our local community. With 81 restaurants across Pakistan, we play a crucial role in bolstering our national economy,” it added.

Read more: Pakistani celebrities unite in solidarity with Palestine

The statement further read that McDonald’s Pakistan does not engage in any form of political involvement.

What was the backlash about?

McDonald’s faced worldwide criticism when its official Israel account made public statements offering complimentary meals to the Israel Defense Force (IDF). The hashtag #BoycottMcDonalds gained international attention with people expressing their decision to withdraw support for the fast-food chain. The hashtag was one of the top trending topic within Pakistan as well, forcing the company to issue a clarification.