Fact Check: Authorities Deny Marriage Certificate Requirement for Entry into Naran

In recent days, social media has been flooded with claims alleging that unmarried couples are banned from entering the popular tourist destination of Naran in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with police checkpoints reportedly demanding marriage certificates from couples. A widely shared Facebook post, dated September 27, featured an image of an alleged signboard stating, “Naran: Marriage certificate required for entry.”

This post garnered over 30,000 views, 3,600 comments, and 1,200 shares, while similar posts circulated on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), fueling the misinformation.

However, the Mansehra Police have strongly refuted these claims, describing them as “completely baseless.” District Police Officer (DPO) Shafiullah Gandapur clarified, “These reports are misleading; all tourists visiting Naran are welcome.” The police department also issued an official statement on its Facebook page, categorically denying the existence of any such signboard or rule requiring marriage certificates.

Assistant Commissioner of Tehsil Balakot, Muhammad Nadir, further confirmed that no official directive regarding marriage certificate checks has been issued. He explained that police only conduct vehicle inspections following standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Authorities have urged the public to disregard false information circulating on social media and to rely solely on verified updates from official sources. The rumor of mandatory marriage certificates for entry into Naran has thus been conclusively debunked.